***For Immediate Release***
October 26, 2011
Contact: Steve Maviglio This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Californians for Retirement Security

SACRAMENTO – Following is a statement by Dave Low, chairman of Californians for Retirement Security, about Gov. Jerry Brown’s pension proposals:

“We are disappointed that the governor is proposing pension changes that will undermine retirement security for public employees. It is unfortunate that he has proposed to increase the retirement age, shift greater costs to workers and impose a hybrid plan on new employees, when public employees already have agreed to hundreds of millions of dollars in pension concessions at the state and local level. Workers across California have negotiated contributing more to their pensions and two-tier benefits. We simply cannot stand for imposing additional retirement rollbacks on millions of workers without bargaining.

We will continue to work with the Governor and the Legislature on reasonable, common sense measures to sustain our state's retirement system. We will continue to act as partners with taxpayers in finding solutions to help rebuild our state’s working class. Our goal is simple. We must provide adequate retirement benefits, eliminate abuses and tackle fiscal realities in a balanced and fair manner.”