A Pension Recommendation for the California Teachers Association

By Edward Ring
08/13/2020
This week a fascinating article on the website of the Education Intelligence Agency revealed that the California Teachers Association, one of the most powerful labor unions in the world, is itself having labor problems. Moreover, the labor problems they’re encountering are because they’re trying to be fiscally responsible. Setting aside for a moment all the grievances that education reformers...

TAGS: California Teachers Association, CalSTRS, government pensions, pension reform

Separating Good Bailouts from Bad Bailouts

By Edward Ring
05/14/2020
The pandemic shutdown is about to enter its third month, and economic repercussions have just begun. Too much has been shut down for too long. In California, the initial reopen is not going to include huge business sectors – theaters, concerts, conventions, sports, travel, hotels – and other sectors such as restaurants and retail establishments are going...

TAGS: California pensions, pension reform

Post-Coronapocalypse pension reform checklist for California

By Edward Ring
04/01/2020
In a perfect world, California’s state and local public employees would receive exactly the same retirement benefits as federal employees. They would receive a modest defined benefit, a contributory 401K, and they would participate in Social Security. Unfortunately, in California, while some state and local public employees are offered 401Ks, and many participate in Social Security, all of...

TAGS: coronavirus, Edward Ring, government unions, pension reform, Public Employee Pension Reform Act, public employees, Social Security

Pension reform waits for California Supreme Court

By Edward Ring
12/02/2019
With markets fitfully advancing after a nearly two year pause, the need for pension reform again fades from public discussion. And it’s easy for pension reformers to forget that even when funds are obviously imperiled, with growing unfunded liabilities and continuously increasing demands from the pension funds, hardly anyone understands what’s going on. Unless you are sitting on a...

TAGS: "California Rule", CalFire Local 2881 vs. CalPERS, California Supreme Court, pension reform, pensions

Local and State Initiatives – The Future of Policy in California?

By Edward Ring
09/18/2019
Grassroots activists in California point to the initiative process as a potent and underutilized last resort, capable of ushering in sweeping reforms. They’re right, but the initiative process is equally available to California’s progressives, backed by powerful special interests. And while the activist reformers talk, the progressives act. How else does one explain the hundreds...

TAGS: Oxnard, pension reform, San Diego

Resistance is NOT Futile

By Edward Ring
04/17/2019
The union assault on charter schools in California has intensified, but resistance is not futile. Parents, students, conscientious teachers, lawmakers and concerned citizens are stepping up. There are many ways to fight for charter schools, which represent one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dismal performance by California’s K-12 system of public education. In an April...

TAGS: CCSA, Charter schools, Democratic Party, education reform, Edward Ring, Larry Sand, pension reform

How Local Governments Can Reform Pensions IF the “California Rule” is Overturned

By Ken Churchill
11/29/2018
In December of 2018, the California Supreme Court will hear arguments in what is generally referred to as the Cal Fire pension case. The ruling could potentially overturn what is commonly referred to as the “California Rule.” The current interpretation of the rule is that pension benefits, once increased, cannot be reduced for existing employees...

TAGS: "California Rule", California pension reform, pension reform

In the Last 25 Years, Sonoma County’s Pension Liability Rose ELEVEN TIMES Faster Than Tax Revenues

By Ken Churchill
09/05/2018
In August of last year retired attorney George Luke sued the Sonoma County Employees Retirement Association (SCERA) and the Board of Supervisors (BOS) because according to County records they did not follow the law when pensions were increased in 2002 and 2003. According to the law, before increasing pension benefits the supervisors are required to...

TAGS: pension reform, Sonoma County