State Employees

ARTICLE: CA Public Pensions Loom as Big Issue

tgaul — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:42:19 -0800

As this article in the Sacramento Bee explains, CalPERS is doing everything it can to avoid cuts to its funding including a "smoothing" plan, which will shift its deficit to taxpayers over the next 30 years. As the article concludes, what really needs to happen is a top-to-bottom review of the public pension system to stop this money hemorrhaging once and for all.

Click Here to read the article.

(PR) CBS Station Reports on SEIU Beating of State Worker

tgaul — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:49:12 -0800

Sacramento -- They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Therefore, a video of SEIU leaders allegedly beating a State worker must be worth … a million?

“This story shows what we’ve known for years in the Capitol: the SEIU wants you to know that you disagree with the SEIU at your own peril,” said Jon Coupal, President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. “But the public is beginning to see SEIU’s true colors – and the only purple we see are the bruises on their reputation.” Read more >>

ARTICLE: Paying for Paradise

sgvirtzman — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:26:14 -0800

In this investigative piece, CBS13 Sacramento went undercover to report on more than 52 CALTRANS workers who attended a 4-day convention at a luxury resort in Desert Springs...in violation of the department own internal policy, and a travel ban ordered by Governor Schwarzenegger. The estimated cost to California taxpayers: more than $28,000.

Click Here to read the article. Read more >>

ARTICLE: Better Late Than Never to Fix Harmful Labor Unions

tgaul — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:10:25 -0700

In this editorial on FlashReport.org, Ray Haynes explains how while serving as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee PERS, he stood firm against the Government Employee Unions’ numerous requests for higher pensions, knowing that this would lead to bankruptcy of the state. Finally, individuals such as State Treasurer Bill Lockyer are realizing that Haynes' position is right. However, as Haynes suggests, the Legislature needs to embrace the same position and start limiting the power of the labor unions. Read more >>

ARTICLE: The Double–Dipper Database

tgaul — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:16:15 -0700

As this article in the OC Register shows, the state government is facilitating double-dipping in the pension funds by providing a job database, called Boomerang, exclusively for state retirees. Almost 5,600 people are now drawing double checks from the state, while thousands remain unemployed and the state struggles to stay afloat.

Click Here to read the article.

ARTICLE: OC Double-Dippers Rake in $.5MM a Year

tgaul — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:22:48 -0700

The OC Register reports on a handful of state employees who collect both their pension fund from their previous state job and a salary from their current state job, adding up to nearly half a million a year. In some cases, this means that when they retire, they retain two, full state pensions a year.

Click Here to read the article.

(PR) Amid Public Protest, Union-backed Pension Hike Pronounced "Dead on Arrival"

tgaul — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:52:14 -0700

Taxpayers achieve victory as egregious Pension increase taken off the table in the eleventh hour

Sacramento --- On the eve of a crucial vote, a Union-backed proposal to increase pensions at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California was suddenly withdrawn, among growing public outrage against elaborate pensions for public employees. Read more >>

(PR) HJTA Launches Radio Campaign against Extravagant Pension Increases

tgaul — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:04:53 -0700

Taxpayers oppose plan to provide workers 75% of salary upon retirement – while Water rates in Southern California climb!

Sacramento --- The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association announced today the launch of a new Radio ad to oppose an outrageous proposal to increase employee pensions at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Read more >>

ARTICLE: OC Officials See Through Met's Plan to "Save Money" by Increasing Union Pensions

tgaul — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:26:23 -0700

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has devised a plan to hike union employee salaries and pensions that–-as Met General Manager Jeff Kightlinger claims--will somehow “save money.” How is this possible? The experts quoted in this OCRegister article clearly state that it is, indeed, not possible. And, to cover the catastrophe that will arise from INCREASING spending in the budget crisis, Met plans to reach into the pockets of L.A., Orange County and San Diego residents, raising water costs by 30 percent. Read more >>

ARTICLE: Retired Water District Employee Has Collected $3MM From Pension

tgaul — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:18:50 -0700

CalPERS (CA Public Employees' Retirement System) has published a report revealing 40 Metropolitan Water District of Southern California retirees with well over $100,000 per year pensions. This could potentially rise by 25% (raising water rates by 30%) if the board passes the new union contract.

Click Here to see the list of retirees in an article in the OC Register. Read more >>