
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 19, 1994                    TAG: 9406170015 
SECTION: COMMENTARY                     PAGE: J4    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: Short 
DATELINE: 940619                                 LENGTH:

PAYING RETIREES' BILL

{LEAD} Federal retirees are costing me and other local and state retirees one of our few benefits.

I am a retired Norfolk police officer (1964-1989). When I applied for the job, the pay was low - less than $400 a month - but if I stayed 25 years I would never have to pay state income taxes on my retirement pay.

{REST} The federal government has many benefits we do not have, the most important being paid hospitalization insurance. Do you think if local and state employees banded together, the courts would take away that benefit on the grounds it is unfair to us?

Thanks again, federal retirees, and enjoy your free health insurance, which I help pay for with my federal taxes. I do not have health insurance, as it would cost me $500 a month.

D. RAY DORMAN

Norfolk, June 1, 1994 by CNB