To the editor:

The states in the USA are complaining bitterly about the pension amounts that retirees are and will be drawing upon retirement and are making plans to lower the amount the state must contribute. The recession has hurt the state, but also in good times the Kansas Legislature did not pay their share.

I imagine that this will be an ongoing complaint and more states will consider reducing the state employees and teachers retirements. I think we are starting on the wrong end of the chain. I think the first order of this should be our presidents. Under the present formula, as young as George W. Bush is and also Barack Obama will be at retirement from the presidency in the next 20 to 30 years could draw as much or more than a million dollars annually in retirement. This formula was set up to give Harry Truman on his retirement a living income.

Our Congress who sets their own salary and retirement formula needs to have major adjustments to both their salary and retirement, also their time away from D.C. After all, this is taxpayer money.