Retired MI teacher who’s face of ‘pension tax’ collects generously

By Tom Gantert | Michigan Capitol Confidential

A retired school teacher with 30-plus years of service says he has to choose between food or medicine due to a law repealing tax exemptions for some pensions.

But James Pearson, a 66-year-old retired teacher from Milford High School with 33 years of service, is likely collecting enough compensation from a pension and Social Security alone to put him above the average state income.

He is also eligible for both Medicare and the state’s retiree health insurance, which should pay for most of the costs for medicine.

at Michigan Capitol Confidential.