—
The fight is on: Dueling ads hit airwaves
* Following days of mean-spirited misinformation about our
pensions in a series of radio ads produced by Bill Sizemore and Bob
Sizemore and Tieman were attacking. Apparently, Sizemore and
Tiernan, we launched an ad campaign that gives Oregonians a more
balanced view of the work public employees do and just who
saying they’re is not mean-spirited. We’ve aired another ad giving
Tiernan didn’t like our message and came out with an ad on April 1
voters more information about our work and our pensions.
THEM
US
THEM
IS
The Tieman, Sizemore ad
But, when they
Ouch! They were stung
Voters heard the facts
was misleading...
heard our ad...
and aired this ad...
about public employees...
MDid you know that, after
a few years on the job, public
and Bill Sizemore have been
6 All of us are frustrated
tSWe’re not attacking
4 Recently, Bob Tiernan
firemen and librarians. We’re
at the cost of government. We’re
school teachers (no matter how
attacking the public employees
simply telling Oregonians the
looking for more efficient ways to
unsatisfactory their performance)
of Oregon. To hear them tell it,
facts about the high cost of
get things done. But, there’s a
most of Oregon’s problems can
excessive public pensions. True,
lot to get done. There’s no
be solved just by cutting public
those facts are shocking, and the
shortage of kids to teach or
that insists on this ridiculous
employee jobs, salaries, and
facts do make taxpayers feel like
criminals to catch.
policy even though it weakens
pensions. Sounds easy, doesn’t
they’re being taken to the clean
our schools.
it? Way too easy. Public em
ers. But, the next time you hear
simple world anymore. That’s
almost cannot be fired?
It’s the teachers’ union
We just don’t live in a
ployees are the police who patrol
a radio ad attacking Bill
why simplistic solutions generally
only 12 years’ experience,
our neighborhoods; the
Sizemore or Bob Tiernan, say to
end up doing more harm than
Portland-area school teachers
firefighters who protect our
yourself, why are they attacking
good.
collect about $70,000 a year in
homes; the teachers who edu
the messengers? What's the
salary and fringe benefits,
cate our kids.
message they don’t want us to
Bob Tiernan. They want to cut
hear?
the salaries and pension of over
Did you know that after
including an unbelievable retire
ment program! Seventy thou
Public employees are
our neighbors. They share in our
This is Bill Sizemore for
Take Bill Sizemore and
180,000 working men and
sand dollars a year and they get
hopes, our worries, and they pay
Oregon Taxpayers United.
women in Oregon. They make it
3-1/2 months off.
the same taxes as the rest of us.
We’re not mean-spirited about
sound like public employees are
They — and Oregon — deserve
public employees, but fair,
rich when the average salary is
really care about kids didn’t
better than the mean-spirited
sensible people. When handed
barely over $25,000. They make
become teachers just for the
misinformation campaign being
the facts, we’ll recognize that
it sound like public employee
money. But, the teachers’ unions
put out by Tiernan and
public employees retirement
pensions are too much when the
have so strong-armed the school
Sizemore.
benefits have crossed the line.
average pension is just $714 a
They’re excessive, and they’re
month.
The good teachers who
districts into providing such extrava
Oregonians are en
Why attack the people
gant benefits that, frankly, the kids
gaged in a debate about the
unfair to the rest of us who,
are now being made to suffer
future. About whether we build
paycheck to paycheck, are
who do the work? Why not work
because of program cuts and fewer
up Oregon out of hope, or tear it
financing pensions for public
together to solve Oregon’s
teachers.
down out of frustration. We
employees that we ourselves
problems. We stand with those
stand with those Oregonians
could never even dream about.
For a free brochure on
waste in our public schools, call
who are committed to building a
Oregon Taxpayers United Educa
better Oregon. Stand with us.
tion Foundation at 251 -1635.
A message from the
Want the hard facts on
public employee pensions? Call
us at 251-1235.”
Stand with us.
A message from the
public employees of Oregon —
public employees of Oregon —
firefighters, teachers, policemen
firefighters, teachers, policemen
and women, librarians, child care
Phone 251-1235 and ask that they
and women, librarians, child care
workers, and all the others who
mail you a copy of the “hard facts”
workers, and all the others who
serve Oregon well.
so you can compare it with what
serve Oregon well.
you know to be true about PERS.
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Oregonians who are committed
to building a better Oregon.