CA DUers who support Brown's idea of giving concessions to the repubs, please read!

[county worker]

The California Republican Assembly, the GOP’s most conservative faction, sponsored a measure to brand as “traitors” any party officeholder who backs Brown’s effort to call a special election to allow voters to decide whether to extend a set of tax increases to help balance the budget, a move aimed squarely at Blakeslee and four colleagues who have been in talks with the governor. Although the “traitor” language was eventually withdrawn, delegates nonetheless passed a resolution insisting that Republican lawmakers oppose putting the tax matter before voters — even if they win concessions on Republican issues like a state spending cap and pension reform.


more:

http://www.independent.com/news/2011/mar/24/grand-old-pandemonium/

[wtmusic]

1. “The California Republican Party is on its way

to becoming the third party in California, behind Decline to State.” :rofl:

What is "Brown's idea" you're describing?

[county worker]

2. Brown: Unions should be open to GOP concessions

http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/24/2323296/brown-unions-should-be-open-to.html#


SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Gov. Jerry Brown said Thursday that he has told his labor union allies they should be open to concessions that Republican lawmakers are seeking on public employee pensions in exchange for GOP votes on the budget.

The Democratic governor has warned that if Republicans fail now, conservatives could try for even bigger giveaways with a future ballot initiative. As if on cue, Republicans filed two such initiatives with the state attorney general on Thursday.

[wtmusic]

6. I trust Gov Moonbeam.

Jerry will not sell out Democrats, period. He will make whatever concessions are necessary to advance our interests in the long run.

[Cleita]

3. I thought we had the majority in both houses of the legislature. Why

should we make any concessions to Republicans?

[warrior1]

4. we need 2/3 vote

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. We do not have the votes to get the issues on the ballot without a couple of

repukes supporting it.

[Cleita]

9. I thought the idea of getting a majority was to be

able to end the 2/3 vote. What am I not understanding?

[former9thward]

10. The 2/3 vote for a ballot referendum is part of the state Constitution.

Can't be changed by any majority.

[Cleita]

11. Then we are destined for rule by minority

forever. That sucks. Time to get an initiative out to change the Constitution.

[KamaAina]

7. Note that the cuts signed yesterday are similar to those that Ahh-nuld pushed for years

the Dem legislature fought them tooth and nail every time, yet meekly acquiesced this year, when they came from a (D). :eyes:

[ProgressiveProfessor]

15. Quite correct

What was unacceptable from the Gropenator is great from Moonbeam. :shrug:

[wtmusic]

8. I love the fact the state GOP doesn't want to put taxes to a popular vote

California citizens want to pull the state out of its financial hole, the GOP wants to dig it deeper.

[msongs]

12. good time for an effecitve PR campaign against repubs. start by service cuts to red

districts. You vote for repubs who want services slashed...well here ya go, your services are slashed.

[itsrobert]

13. Jon and Ken on KFI

They have a large audience and put pressure on republicans.

[taught_me_patience]

14. I can't support tax increases without pension reform

Seriously, we pay some of the highest taxes in the nation and public employees have the cushiest pensions I've ever seen.

[county worker]

16. How much would your life style change if there was pension reform?

Not much but you would hurt other people because of a selfish motive. People have been planning for years based on the promises made to them. It isn't right to take away what was promised. The pension contributions are part of a negotiated contract and they are not your money. You have an obligation to pay taxes and to pay for the services public employees provide to you.

I am will to bet most anything that the amount of State tax you have paid in over your working career would not begin to pay for the state services you have received during that time.

CA State employees have been forced to take one unpaid day off every two weeks, that is a cut in salary.

Almost everyone working back in the days before union busting got a pension. My dad did and most likely your dad did. Instead of fighting among ourselves we should fight to organize and get pensions for everyone again.

Your attitude is just what the corporations want you to have. Pitting us against each other. Once they destroy the public unions there will be no one to fight for worker's rights and no unions to contribute to candidates that support ideas that are in your interests.

We can elect people who will give us tax fairness if we work together.

[taught_me_patience]

17. Ok... I'll address your points

Not much but you would hurt other people because of a selfish motive. People have been planning for years based on the promises made to them. It isn't right to take away what was promised. The pension contributions are part of a negotiated contract and they are not your money. You have an obligation to pay taxes and to pay for the services public employees provide to you.

When there is a pension shortfall, the taxpayer will have to fund the difference.

I am will to bet most anything that the amount of State tax you have paid in over your working career would not begin to pay for the state services you have received during that time.

No way in hell. If that were the case, the state would have a 100% probability of going bankrupt. I estimate my wife and I paid over $30k in state taxes last year.

CA State employees have been forced to take one unpaid day off every two weeks, that is a cut in salary.

My company laid off 20% of its workforce. The private sector has been taking hits for years now.

Almost everyone working back in the days before union busting got a pension. My dad did and most likely your dad did. Instead of fighting among ourselves we should fight to organize and get pensions for everyone again.

My parents have never had a pension because they are small business owners. Ironically, I work for a company with a pension, but they killed it recently. Now we have a 401k, which, in my opinion is better than a pension.


Your attitude is just what the corporations want you to have. Pitting us against each other. Once they destroy the public unions there will be no one to fight for worker's rights and no unions to contribute to candidates that support ideas that are in your interests.

I'm not against unions. I just believe that they need to agree to reform and face the same standard the private sector faces.

We can elect people who will give us tax fairness if we work together.

Agree with this

[county worker]

18. Back at you.

"When there is a pension shortfall, the taxpayer will have to fund the difference."

The tax payer pays for everything the public sector does. Why pick out pensions? The reason there may be a short fall is because the money was used for other things, people live longer, or the market tanked.

None of that is the employee's fault.




"I paid over $30k in state taxes last year."


What makes that amount up? break it down. Public sector employees pay taxes too.





"My company laid off 20% of its workforce. The private sector has been taking hits for years now."

The result of a bad economy caused by Wall Street but you would punish public workers for it!



"My parents have never had a pension because they are small business owners."


What you have is a defined contribution plan what the public sector has is a defined benefit
plan. I guess how you live in retirement decides which is best.


"I'm not against unions. I just believe that they need to agree to reform and face the same standard the private sector faces."


Why because the private sector got screwed by the right everyone should get screwed by the right?

I say let's all have a good life not take each other down in a race to the bottom!