Pension responses incomplete

In response to two April 16 letters, “Sickened by pension abuse,” from Peter Ward, and “LEOFF-1 mischaracterized,” from Doug Amsbury.

The first letter points out how the general public misunderstands as a result of bias and incomplete reporting. The abuses happened, and they are deplorable.

Amsbury stated that they affect only the closed LEOFF-1 system. True, for the most part. Amsbury said that spiking could not happen here because of civil service. Did he happen to notice that the reported cases of spiking were upper-level administrators in appointed positions above civil service classification, and the cronies referred to were city/county administrators pushing retirement packages?

Ward broadly paints all LEOFF-1 retirees as co-conspirators and abusers of the system. Are we disturbed about the abuses? Absolutely. Those of us in the system are willing to take the steps to fix it. But, at the same time, we are adamantly opposed to allowing the Legislature to raid the system.

All of the retirees that I know are covered by Medicare and supplemental insurance and, consequently, whatever impact there may be is for expenses over and above these coverages. There’s not enough space to address all the issues raised but maybe there is room for reasonable civility over emotional rants.

David Evans

Spokane