State Rep. Jamie Thompson, of Brownstown, issued the following statement after voting against House Bill 5803 on Tuesday, June 25. The proposal raids more than $600 million from Michigan’s public school teachers’ retirement fund, commonly known as MPSERS, to help pay for other projects. MPSERS is currently underfunded by more than $34 billion:

“As every family with a budget knows, state government should be working to pay down debt obligations – not create more.

“This money should continue to go to MPSERS and be put toward paying down the pension system. If we pay that off, it would eventually free up billions of dollars per year for districts that could go back into the classroom. That should be the focus. Reducing liability for districts does not eliminate the liability – it only shifts it elsewhere.

“Educators across our communities who dedicate their lives to preparing students for success deserve the security of retirement – not uncertainty regarding their benefits. Unfortunately, Democrats in Lansing are not stopping as they seek to bankroll more of their agenda and balance an out-of-control budget. This time, they’re using retirement benefit promises for our hardworking teachers to help foot the bill. That’s not right, and it’s why this plan doesn’t have my support.”