The pension abuses which come from across the board have finally reached “Maximum Overload”. If you can believe it, a few Legislators are actually taking a long look at not only million dollar annual salaries, but also gross amounts in annual Pension pay-outs. Governor Arnold has even decided to stick around Sacramento to address a few details rather than going on vacation and having fun.
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/sep/19/local/la-me-bell-legislation-20100920
Talking to Supervisor John Moorlach might have yeilded a somewhat more definitive answer to a discussion of Pension issues…but then he was currently unavailable. So, we asked our Libertarian-Independent neighbor all about those Pensions wads and what should be done to make the State of California whole. Consider it your basic push poll….that most politicians really use. They call up one person they know will state their case and they use that as their basis of true understanding on any issue. Our neighbor John is in his late 30’s, has two young boys 7 and 5 and a beautiful hardworking stay at home wife.
Our neighbor John…not to be confused with John Moorlach again….had no qualms about saying that saving Pensions for Firefighters and Police was OK…but that every other Public Employee Group should be forced to simply follow these simple changes to their benefit packages: (1) No retirement with 3 at 50. (2) All retirement would be 3 at 60 starting immediately. All those that have already started their 3 at 50…..would be put on hold….until they turn 60. 3rdly, when they do get their Social Security at 62 or later -and if they get it, that money would be deducted from their Pension Payments…one, two, three or all. Finally, if any of these people decide to find lucrative consulting jobs with any Public Agency or Government Facility – Their Pension payments would immediately cease for that Calendar year or twelve months, whatever is greater.
OK, face it our neighbor is out there. He loves the Tea Party people and thinks that Christine O’Donnell will win Delaware this November. Having said and considering all that, our neighbor John does have a pretty good argument for simplified Pension Reform. We do have to remember that these ideas are strictly from the deep Grass Roots, with pretty good logic and common sense solutions – we might add!
Yet, what might our good pal Supervisor Moorlach answer to one of his in district constituents, especially about “his namesakes ideas” on Public Employee Pension Reform? Those CALPERS Insurance people will be challenged changing all those Actuarial Tables overnight..won’t they? Maybe AIG can serve a useful purpose afterall……..Reprinting the Pension Manuals is bound to take a while! How many politicians do you think can dodge this issue…and for how long? This could certainly be a November to remember!
I agree public sector pension costs need to be reined in, but if you are advocating (it is not quite clear to me just what you are advocating here) that the State step in and dictate to local cities, school districts, special districts and counties what they must do regarding pay and benefits of their own employees, then I am not with you. The locals need to be held accountable, but having Sacramento take charge is scary as heck, a formula for another disaster and thus very inadvisable. The State must deal with its own employees, but hands off other public entities.
BAW, not only are you right, but you get the prize for being the first blogger/commenter in six months to spell “reined in” correctly.
Check it out, the rest of y’all. It has nothing to do with “reign” which has to do with a kingdom; it has EVERYTHING to do with yanking back on a horse’s REINS. (no G)
I agree with most of what Been around a while argues, especially that the state should deal with its own employees and keep its hands off of local jurisdictions. However, state law does impact public pension formulas and I think that the original post was only calling for amendment of existing state law to conform with the proposed pension reforms, not that the state take over existing local control.