Back the Public Employee Benefits Reform Initiative

One of the better state legislators in recent years was Assemblyman Keith Richman, who was term-limited out of office last year. Unlike most of our politicians, he had a real job before going into politics. He’s a medical doctor. When I interviewed him in person, I felt confident that, if I keeled over with a heart attack, he’d know what to do.

In the Assembly, he pushed a reform of the exorbitant pensions that are bankrupting state and local governments. It went nowhere. Now he’s back with the Public Employee Benefits Reform Initiative. He’s right that the failure to reform the system would drive direct costs to taxpayers through the Capitol roof, bankrupting the state.

And as I’ve noted before, tax increases for such largess are not the answer because the state is tapped out. According to the Daily News:

Under the plan, all new public employees except those in public-safety jobs would have to work until age 65 to 67 – and police officers and firefighters would have to work to age 55 – to receive full pension benefits. Depending on years worked, some safety agencies in the state have a lower age for full retirement.

Richman’s plan would apply to all new employees in state and local government, special districts, school districts, and the California State University and University of California systems beginning July 1, 2009. If enough signatures are collected, the initiative would go on the ballot in November 2008.

Naturally, the government shirkers’ unions are opposed. They wouldn’t be satisfied even if taxes were 110% and each government shirker was given a personal chattel slave/taxpayer.

Dr. Richman’s reform is essential.

I’ll keep you posted on where to get petitions when they come out.