State Lawmakers Get A Look At Brown's Pension Reform Plan
SACRAMENTO (CBS SF) - Gov. Jerry Brown has given state lawmakers his official proposal for pension reform. Depending on how things pan out in Sacramento - and beyond - the sweeping changes could be in place within a year.
"There was some curiosity whether the governor might pull back on some of this pension reforms to keep SEIU and the teachers (union) happy and it doesn't look like he has. It looks like he's going with the full range of pension reform," surmised nonpartisan Sacramento-based political consultant Leo McElroy.
Brown's proposal mandates that public employees pay at least half the cost of their retirement plans. The proposal also increases the retirement age, reduces benefits for new hires and forfeits pensions for elected officials or civil servants convicted of a felony in connection with their jobs.
KCBS' Anna Duckworth Reports:
"There is a meaningful chance that this could pass but it's anything but a slam dunk," McElroy said of the potential for passage. The plan needs two-thirds approval from the legislature followed by voter approval in order for the constitutional changes to be enacted. Brown has proposed that, if passed, the reforms would kick in Jan. 1, 2013.
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