San Antonio, TX — TODAY, as the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) concludes their convention, Democratic Lt. Governor Nominee, Mike Collier issues the following quotes in reaction to the myriad of challenges discussed at the convention and are currently being dealt with by both current and retired teachers:
“Politicians who: 1) claim teacher pensions are safe, 2) refuse to acknowledge that Texas is $100+ billion in debt and is facing a $10 billion fiscal hole, 4) use Enron accounting to close the books, 5) take local property taxes to pay state’s bills, 6) cut retired teacher benefits, and finally 7) blow a $32 billion hole in pension funding, can NOT be trusted. Period.”
“Dire threats are facing teachers. For example, more layoffs are coming for current educators and deeper cuts to benefits for retired teachers are also on the way.”
“TRS will almost certainly reduce its estimate of asset returns when it meets later this month. If that increases the state’s funding requirement, there won’t be enough money. The state will likely cut retired teacher benefits again. I offer real financial solutions. Dan Patrick offers spin and deception.”
In the 2018 Texas primary, more voters chose Democrats or an alternative to Dan Patrick in the Lt. Governor election. Patrick’s opponent endorsed Mike Collier and has actively campaigned on Collier’s behalf. Democrats doubled their primary turnout from 2014, while the Lt. Governor saw an astounding 20% drop-off in votes from the Gubernatorial primary race.
Mike Collier is a proven business leader with an unblemished record of integrity and service. He is committed to excellent public education, reforming school funding, making property taxes fair again, and genuine fiscal responsibility. Mike and his wife Suzanne met at the University 0f Texas and have been married almost 29 years. They have two sons (and a wonderful daughter-in-law from Brazil), both of whom attended public schools and graduated from UT. Mike ran for Texas Comptroller in 2014 on the Democratic Ticket and served as Finance Chair for the Texas Dem. Party until March, 2017.