The letter writers who continue to call for massive changes in the Public Employees Retirement System need to recognize reality. The Oregon Supreme Court has, in unambiguous language, made the standard clear: The legislature cannot reduce benefits already earned. Period. End of story. We, as residents and taxpayers who must fund this system, need to recognize that those who went before us wrote huge checks to be paid later to public employees. That is a contractual commitment, rightly or wrongly, that we are all bound now to honor.
We need to proactively look at solutions going forward. Allen Alley’s op-ed might bear some investigating (“It’s time to retire PERS,” Feb. 10). Continuing to beat the dead horse? Well, all we’re doing is beating the dead horse. Let’s get on about finding a solution that will stand a court test and move on.
Greg Baxter, Northwest Portland
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