Posted on 3/26/2011, 5:45:35 PM by SmithL
Brown's Countdown, Day 76: Budget talks deteriorate as GOP unveils big request list
State budget talks between Gov. Jerry Brown and Republican lawmakers deteriorated Friday as Republicans released a long list of proposals to overhaul California government that Democrats said had further divided the parties.
According to a document Senate Republicans provided to reporters, they asked Brown for pension cuts to current and future employees, as well as changes to teacher tenure that reward performance and a hard cap on future state spending, among dozens of ideas.
... The list provided by Republicans included notations of where Brown and Democratic leaders had agreed and disagreed, a rare unveiling that serves as a bad sign for negotiations.
According to GOP notes, Brown is willing to accept a $106,000 per year cap on final pension amounts and impose new restrictions intended to block workers from spiking their payouts. But he rejected increases in cost-sharing, as well as any move toward a 401(k) style plan, for current employees. He was, however, open to creating a hybrid option for future workers.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.sacbee.com ...
Greedy socialist bastards!
There is no cash flow problem in the state. Even with the state economy not flying, it is simply a problem with employee compensation. Cap health benefits at $500 per month, giving every state employee the option to take it as cash. Cap vacations to 2 weeks per year, eliminate payouts for accrual of leave time. Outright eliminate any benefits for elected or appointed officials, including retirement benefits. And convert every employee to social security.
Suddenly, you’re 14 billion in the green, enough money to retrofit every highway in the state without cutting any of the moneytrain to illegals.
You are partly correct,
There is plenty of cash in Kalifornia. I moved back here to be closer to grandchildren. So much cash that we expend about half of the total national output of assistance while comprising 10% of the total population.
The “powers that be” in Sacramento didn’t bat an eyelash when they found that $69,000,000 per year is spent in casinos using welfare cards. That’s just the casinos, it’s not known how much is spent in liquor stores etc.. They like it, because they know it is buying loyal constituents.
‘any move toward a 401(k) style plan”
Pension agencies are fighting any talk of defined contribution plans for new employees. They want the cash from new employees to fund benefits of current retirees, a start of using social Security style financing of state and local pensions. The head of Colorado PERA made a presentation to the Colorado House indicating that the actuarial soundness of the pension fund depended on a growth in stage government employment.
The Union Rats believe a ‘retirement account’ is an unending stream of goodies, not a savings account — a nest egg of fixed size. When it runs out, one needs to either go back to work, or economize and begin drawing down assets (net worth, your home, etc).
Not unions tho.
The TAX PAYERS are forced to do with LESS, so these protected classes enjoy an unending stream of payments
Greedy, socialist, egalitarian thieves.
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