Is PERS responsible for the budget cuts we are currently facing?

Obviously, any costs that increase at a time when state revenues are declining contribute to the budget problem. But I think PERS has served as a scapegoat for budget problems that really result from years of imprudent tax cuts in Oregon.

If we rolled back many of the tax cuts of the last decade — especially cuts on corporations and the wealthy — we would be able to improve public services without taking away retirement benefits from public employees.

It is no more accurate to blame PERS for budget cuts and layoffs than it would be to blame the increased cost of education for our decaying roads and bridges.

Perhaps it is giving tax cuts to small businesses to buy Hummers that is the real culprit here.