FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 19, 2015
CONTACT: Amanda Smith @ 949.223.5037
“Combined unfunded pension and retiree medical liabilities mean every resident has an obligation of $7,000.”
“Our priorities should be paying down these debts. Our values should dictate that we can’t leave this burden to our children and our grandchildren.”
“We also cannot continue raising taxes. We already have the highest income tax, corporate tax, and gas tax rates in the nation.”
Sacramento, CA – Today, Senator Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa) brought to the Senate Budget Bill (SB 97) debate a reminder of California’s unfunded liabilities and long term fiscal debts:
- “I want to thank the Governor for holding the line and exercising fiscal restraint. Today we’re voting on a budget bill that is almost identical to what he had proposed.
- “I just want to remind my colleagues that we have a combined unfunded liability of CalPERS, CalSTRS and the UC retirement systems of around $140 billion. We have an unfunded retiree medical obligation of $72 billion. We’re discussing deferred infrastructure maintenance of around $59 billion. We combine that all together and that means that every resident of California has an obligation of $7,000 per capita.
- “So, I am very appreciative that the Governor is exercising fiscal restraint. It is a necessity. Our priorities should be paying down these debts and our value would dictate that we can’t leave this burden to our children and our grandchildren. And, I agree, we cannot keep saying, ‘next year;’ next year we’ll attack the pension debts, next year we’ll take care of retiree medical.
- “We also cannot continue raising taxes. We already have the highest income tax, corporate tax, and gas tax rates in the nation. And we have the highest poverty rates, which have been repeated here on the floor. How can we keep taxing higher and higher?
- “Holding the fiscal line is the appropriate and necessary action to take. This bill comes close to doing this, but it could be better.”
To request an interview with Senator Moorlach, please contact Amanda Smith at amanda.smith@sen.ca.gov or at (949) 223-5037.
About Senator John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa)
State Senator John Moorlach represents the 37th district of California, is a Certified Financial Planner and is the only CPA in the California State Senate. He gained national attention 20 years ago when he was appointed Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector and helped the County recover from its bankruptcy filing – at the time the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. History.
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Does Morlock even hear himself spelling? Or, is he just the same petty liar he was when on the OC BoS? A simple check shows the error puff his statement. Yet, just like when he was a corrupt member of the BoS, he spews BS. California does not have the highest tax in any off those categories and, in fact, is quite lower on the list one category. In any case, just another ineffective two faced Republican out to get pension money into the hands of his cronies at the expense off the working man.
“ineffective two faced Republican out to get pension money into the hands of his cronies at the expense off the working man.”
Right. The “working man.” Who can possibly retire at 50 with virtually all of his final pay. Now that’s a funny joke.
The real working man scrapes by with what he can put into a 401K, at the mercy of market vicissitudes, and of course he’s got a capped Social Security check to fall back on.
When you people start taking the same deal as everybody else we can stop laughing at your hardship.
Well said!
You are misinformed by the crooks and cronies if you think we all retire with a 100 percent pension. The fact is, most people retire from county service with less than 30k a year in pension money. They do save money in their 457 or 401(k) (as I did) and will be able to live comfortably because they planned well. You people should do the same.
Oh, so we can run out and raise more taxes and debt “for the working man”?
For more facts and less rant, try this- http://taxfoundation.org/state-tax-climate/california.
Are you suggesting that all cities should default and file bankruptcy? Then they can negotiate with pension plans and lower contributions thereby lowering the money retirees will receive?