I could learn to be comfortable on $242,000+/year since all my living and staff expenses are provided too ~  ~ Sooz

Texas Governor and current Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry appears to have pulled something of a fast one on his state's taxpayers by officially “retiringâ€

OFPS.  The freaking government employee's unions are to be blamed for this bs.  I can remember the endless newspaper articles, for decades, complaining about how bad off "public servants" are paid, and how much more they could be making in the "private sector."  Now criminal salary policies for high level State employees is caused by the unions? 

Jeez, what world have I been living in?  If Perry is entitled to this, are the State's janitorial employees also entitled to the same deal?  Are the teachers?  Are the police?   Are the various City and State road repair crews also entitled to this freebie.  Aren't they all represented by Government Employees Unions?  If they work for the government, shouldn't they be?

Oh, please, may every low level employee who has been busting their asses for decades become fully aware of this and all retire at once.  Go, baby, go.

The plan that broke the bank of Plano?

I have quite a vocabulary of profanity and I fervently wish I was aware of a specific word that would describe Perry's actions.  Unfortunately, I can't think of one low enough, filthy enough, or sufficiently disgusting to describe him.

But I have never heard of anyone, anywhere have a set up where you can keep the job and salary you have, while at the same time receive a pension for retirement from that job.  That is so insane as to be unbelievable.  I have neither the time of the strength to investigate this situation, but unless I personally read the law that permit this, and see how they were devised and passed, I will never believe it was something desired by Unions, and I don't see where gopqed is coming up with "...it's the unions..."

Unions ?  Indeed?   I see no benefit for the Unions to advocate or be happy with such an arrangement.  

This arrangement smells a whole lot more of political corruption than it does of Union demands.  

http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/GV/htm/GV.814.htm

It doesn't take an Einstein to figure out why unions would support a provision like this - it provides members of the system to start drawing retirement benefits at an earlier age, and allows them to continue to work as a state employee, increasing their retirement benefits, while drawing those retirement benefits.  It's a tremendous benefit, particularly to long-term employees. 

Perry's taking advantage of this is legal, but shows terribly poor judgement for someone running for President on a platform of limited government and government austerity.  It's a good example of why he isn't a good choice for Presidnet.

http://www.tpea.org/legislation/accomplishments