OC Politics Blog | Tag Archives: Pension Reform

Spitzer gains adoption of a pension reform proposal at the OCTA

Posted on March 29, 2015 by Editor Posted in OCTA, Orange County, Pension Crisis, Todd Spitzer 1 Comment

Spitzer Gains Adoption of Pension Reform Proposal at OCTA

By: OC Supervisor Todd Spitzer

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors unanimously approved a pension reform proposal by Director Todd Spitzer to permit newly-hired OCTA employees aged 60 or older to opt out of a pension. The proposal had its origin in a pension system regulation that was ratified at the urging of then-Supervisor/now-Senator Patricia Bates, who is also a former OCTA Director.

“As far as possible under state law, this item helps move OCTA employees into 401(k)-style retirement plans,” OCTA Director Spitzer said. “Before this proposal was adopted, OCTA employees could not refuse to participate in a pension plan. Now, new OCTA employees who are at least 60 years old will be able to decide on an individual basis whether they wish to be part of a defined benefit pension plan or a 401(k)-style defined contribution plan.” Continue reading→

The Supervisors should let Orange County voters vote for pension reform!

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2012 Elections, John Moorlach, Labor, Nick Berardino, Orange County, Pension Crisis, Republican Party 2 Comments

You can’t trust OCEA labor boss Nick Berardino to deal with the O.C. $4 billion pension debt!

“Just as county leaders begin labor negotiations, there’s talk about the potential of seeking pension ballot measures like those seen earlier this month in San Jose and San Diego,” according to the labor-funded Voice of OC.

Apparently John Moorlach, the chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, has asked County Counsel Nick Chrisos to brief supervisors at Tuesday’s meeting about the terms of the measures in both cities as well as the legal challenges already arising from labor groups. Continue reading→

Unions trounced in Wisconsin, California

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Editor Posted in 2012 Elections, California, Labor, Scott Walker, Steven Greenhut, Wisconsin Leave a comment

By Steven Greenhut

The AP headline declared, “Wisconsin voters divided on governor, bargaining,” but that piece reviewing exit polls stood in stark contrast to reality. Voters always are divided to some degree, but Wisconsin voters overwhelmingly rebuked the public-sector unions that had sought to recall reform-minded Republican Scott Walker. As of 9 pm California time, the election was called in his favor as he held an astounding 18 percentage-point lead.

Furthermore, the Republican lieutenant governor was also cruising to victory, as were four Republicans in the state Senate seats targeted by the Democrats and their labor union allies. This is a big victory not just for Wisconsin residents, who will continue to see good-government reforms proceed, but for the rest of the nation, even those of us in California. Continue reading→