SACRAMENTO TOTALLY OUT-OF-TOUCH ON PENSION REFORM

◼ Voters understand that every additional dollar government spends on pensions is one less dollar for public safety, schools and other priorities. That is why when given the opportunity, voters in places such as Wisconsin, San Diego and San Jose voted for reform.... - Assemblyman Martin Garrick/Flash Report

No matter how they spin it, government union bosses and their Sacramento allies cannot ignore the obvious – voters of all stripes supported pension reform because the status quo is failing. Cities like San Diego and San Jose are devoting a greater portion of tax dollars to pensions. This year, San Diego will spend $231 million on pensions compared to $137 million in 2006. To meet this rising cost, the city has had to lay off workers and reduce services.

A recent study from Stanford University says California’s taxpayers are on the hook for as much as $497 billion in unfunded pension liabilities for state workers. Governor Brown has proposed a modest 12-point pension reform plan that my Republican colleagues and I introduced on his behalf in the Legislature.

Yet Democrats have left his plan languishing in parliamentary purgatory for months and the Governor has done nothing to call them out on it. Their latest excuse is that they have run out of time to vote on a plan because the Legislature has adjourned for its summer vacation. But they had plenty of time to pass a budget dependent on higher taxes and start the construction of the high-speed fantasy train.

Even worse, legislative Democrats are exploring their options of whether they can legally override the San Diego and San Jose pension reforms. Such plotting would completely disrespect the will of the local voters Democrats claim to represent....