Jack Dean is editor of PensionTsunami.org, formed to monitor developments in all three pension spheres nationwide — public employees, corporations and social security. PensionTsunami, like UnionWatch, is a project of the California Public Policy Center. Dean is a former newspaper editor and a past executive director of the Reason Foundation. He has been active in politics for more than three decades and currently serves as president of the Fullerton Association of Concerned Taxpayers.
Wisconsin property tax bills fall as Scott Walker’s reforms start to kick in Editorial, April 17, 2012, Wall Street Journal The public employee unions and other liberals are confident that Wisconsin voters will turn out Governor Scott Walker in a recall election later this year, but not so fast. That may turn out to be...
By Jack Dean
Jerry Brown, unions agree to delay contract talks until after tax vote By Jon Ortiz, April 10, 2012, Sacramento Bee Gov. Jerry Brown has agreed to extend the labor contracts of four state worker unions, pushing aside a potential obstacle to his quest for a tax increase later this year. The agreements affect roughly 24,000...
By Jack Dean
Federal judge declines unions’ request to block consent agreement By Christine MacDonald, April 2, 2012, Detroit News A federal judge today declined to issue a restraining order sought by city union leaders to halt action on a proposed consent agreement between Detroit and the state. Judge Arthur Tarnow instead set a hearing for 2 p.m....
By Jack Dean
New York’s Governor Loses a Round to the Unions on Pensions Editorial, March 26, 2012, Wall Street Journal Andrew Cuomo has had a good run in his first year as New York Governor, with some useful education reforms marred by a tax increase. But the likely 2016 Democratic Presidential candidate just went toe-to-toe with public...
By Jack Dean
Unions plan protest against Baltimore County pension bill By Alison Knezevich, March 19, 2012, The Baltimore Sun Union members from around Baltimore are planning a rally Monday to protest legislation by Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz that would reduce some county employees’ pension benefits. County Council members are scheduled to vote Monday on the proposal,...
By Jack Dean
Public Employees’ Pensions Can Sink the Ship By Nancy Smith, March 12, 2012, Sunshine State News Judge Jackie Fulford did more than dig a potential $2 billion hole in the Florida budget. She gave back to a redefined union movement in this state the two things it lacked most — muscle and heart. At the...
By Jack Dean
Teachers union leads in record year of lobbying lawmakers By Patrick McGreevy, March 6, 2012, Los Angeles Times Labor group spent $6.5 million, part of a $286.6-million effort by lobbyists to court legislators. The economy and a new Democratic governor after seven years of a business-friendly Republican are key factors. State Assemblyman Warren Furutani looked...
By Jack Dean
Committee OKs bill to restrict mass picketing in Georgia By Kristina Torres, February 28, 2012, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Mass picketing outside private residences would be restricted under a bill passed Tuesday by a Senate Committee. A Georgia bill would restrict mass picketing in front of private residences. Senate Bill 469 would also require employees to...
By Jack Dean
Michigan Unions Look to Amend Constitution to Block Anti-Labor Bills Jane Slaughter, February 20, 2012, Labor Notes Michigan’s top union leaders are meeting behind closed doors to decide whether to attempt to amend the state constitution to block emergency managers and a “right to work” law through a ballot initiative this November. Governor Mitch Daniels...
By Jack Dean
Union Bo$$ d’Arcy’s ‘Investment’ Pays Off Big Time By Jack Humphreville, February 13, 2012, CityWatch LA Bloomberg reporters Chris Palmeri and Rodney Yap have created quite a commotion with their February 7th Bloomberg expose which stated that our Department of Water and Power had “the highest paid employees in the City of Los Angeles, earning...
By Jack Dean
Dems, labor say federal workers are being scapegoated By Bernie Becker, February 6, 2012, The Hill Public employee unions and congressional Democrats are pushing back on GOP proposals to overhaul federal pension procedures, as Republicans press to use savings wrung from the government workforce to pay for other initiatives. Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-Va.) and the...
By Jack Dean
California Teachers Association backs Brown’s tax plan By Kevin Yamamura, January 30, 2012, Sacramento Bee The California Teachers Association officially agreed Sunday to back Gov. Jerry Brown’s multibillion-dollar tax plan, which should provide the governor hefty financial support for his fall campaign. The union represents 325,000 teachers and education workers, and it is a heavy...
By Jack Dean
Unions and Rebranded ACORN Behind Violent Occupy San Francisco Clashes With Police By Lee Stranahan, January 23, 2012, Big Government In San Francisco this past weekend, the Occupy movement bolstered by labor unions and the rebranded California ACORN group ACCE once again terrorized private businesses and got into direct clashes that included throwing furniture, bricks...
By Jack Dean
Wisconsin Democrats still searching for Walker opponent January 16, 2012, Associated Press Supporters of a push to oust Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker from office are prepared to declare victory in their effort to force the Republican into a recall election. But a problem looms for Democrats: They still don’t know who would run against him....
By Jack Dean
a new form will got here