What Unions Are Costing California

In a SacBee editorial today, Dan Walters writes: “Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger may have abandoned his pension reform measure due to inartful drafting and a very artful opposition campaign by public employee unions, but that doesn’t mean the problem has vanished.”

California has the nation’s most generous public pension benefits - due to local and state politicians’ Pavlovian responses to union demands - and soaring costs are siphoning money away from more urgent public needs and pushing some local governments to the brink of insolvency.”

Amen. He speaks the truth. And, indeed, the problem persists. An excellent perspective on the many challenges facing Arnold. We’re sure the Governator has figured out that politics has more villains and enemies than found in any of his movies.

Mr. Walters nails it with this conclusion:

Were benefits more dependent on what CalPERS and the other funds earned on investments, rather that open-ended hits on taxpayers, perhaps workers and unions would be more vigilant about those investments and less tolerant of pension fund trustees’ side-agenda high jinks.”

Couldn’t agree more.

RELATED: Why Can’t California Reform Education?

2 Responses to “What Unions Are Costing California”

  1. California Conservative » Political Branding: Democrats Call Schwarzenegger’s Reforms “An Election About Nothing” Says:

    [...] like a lot of something to us. And that’s exactly what’s been worrying the unions, which are funneling big money to promote opposition. Democrats in California&#8 [...]

  2. California Conservative » California Republican Party: Fall 2005 Convention (Day Three) Says:

    [...] What Unions Are Costing California Why Can’t California Reform Education? What Unions Are Teaching Us Arnold: Live to Fight Another Day Unions - 1, Arnold - 0 [...]

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