An AP story this week about a superintendent who forfeited thousands in pay and retirement benefits is a refreshing lesson for officials to put entitlement arguments aside. We've got a crisis to get through. 

Fresno County's superintendent Larry Powell has offered to give up $800,000 he would be earning in the next three years to offset budget cuts in his California school district. On top of that, Powell retired early, and will now receive $28,000 a year less in pension payments for the rest of his life. He also asked his board to rehire him at $31,000, a steep pay cut, and  — adding to the generosity — that money will be going to charity.

As public workers spar with lawmakers over pension and benefit negotiations, this story provides much-needed inspiration — something that was robbed from me this week since I discovered my former state governor's generous pension is based on a private salary and could be paid through tax dollars.