State Rep. Greg Alexander, of Carsonville, today blasted a move by Democrats that plays games with retirement promises made to hardworking educators and ultimately will keep per-pupil funding lower for longer.

Alexander voted against House Bill 5803 on Tuesday – a proposal which raids more than $600 million from Michigan’s public school teachers’ retirement fund, commonly known as MPSERS, to help pay for other projects.

“Our local teachers deserve peace of mind and a retirement they can count on, but this plan gambles with their retirement to fund a bunch of unrelated programs on politicians’ personal wish lists,” Alexander said. “As Democrats in Lansing continue their spending spree, they’re desperate for ways to pay for it. But there are many better ways to find funding. The teacher retirement fund should not be on the chopping block.”

Responsible budgeting by past Republican administrations resulted in the Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) system nearing 100 percent funding. However, MPSERS remains drastically underfunded by over $34 billion.

Alexander said money should continue to go to MPSERS and be put toward paying down the pension system. If the debt is paid off, it would eventually free up billions of dollars per year for districts that could go back into the classroom.

Instead, the proposal merely shifts debt liability elsewhere.

HB 5803 moves to the Senate for further consideration.