News Articles

CalPERS CEO says pension proposal full of problems

August 4, 2015

By Jon Ortiz, Sacramento Bee 

A proposed ballot measure that would make future pension benefits subject to voter approval is fraught with legal and administrative peril, according to a letter from CalPERS’ chief executive officer, eliciting a response from one of the measure’s proponents that the assessment is a “lie.”

Bonta: CalSTRS Says Pension Ballot Measure Would Negatively Impact Teacher Retirement Security, Stability of Pension Fund, Increase State Costs

July 30, 2015

SACRAMENTO - The retirement security of California's retired, current, and future teachers and the stability of the state's pension fund for educators would be put at risk if a ballot measure addressing those issues is approved by California voters next November, according to an internal analysis by CalSTRS, requested by and released by Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Oakland), Chairman of the Assembly's Committee on Public Employees, Retirement, and Social Security.

The DeMaio/Reed Ballot Measure: It Goes Too Far

July 29, 2015

The ballot measure proposed by former San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed and former San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio is a dramatic attack on the retirement security of teachers, nurses, firefighters, police and other public employees. Disguised as the “Voter Empowerment Act,” the measure undermines benefits to existing and new employees.

LAO Deals a Blow to Pension Measure’s Chances

July 29, 2015

By Steven Maviglio, Fox & Hounds
July 29, 2015

The Legislative Analysts Office may have dealt the death knell to an effort to slash the retirement security of California’s teachers, firefighters, peace officers, bus drivers and other public employees this week with a candid assessment of its impact.

LAO Analysis of Reed/DeMaio Measure

July 27, 2015

Pursuant to Elections Code Section 9005, we have reviewed a constitutional initiative related to compensation and retirement benefits for state and local governmental employees in California (A.G. File No. 15-0033).

Latest measure from pension attackers threatens middle class

July 26, 2015

by Dave Low

In their never-ending effort to force-feed warmed-over political ideas to a skeptical public, the pension attackers are back, using new poll-tested language and focus-grouped talking points to undermine retirement security for millions of working families.

Chuck Reed, Carl DeMaio Plan Draws Huge Protest in Sacramento

July 20, 2015

More than 100 firefighters, teachers, police officers, school employees and other public servants today protested an expected November 2016 ballot measure that would eliminate retirement security for millions of Californians.

The demonstration took place outside a meeting hosted for proponents of the effort by the right-wing Reason Foundation featuring former San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed and former San Diego city council member Carl DeMaio.