Prop. 162
Your editorial (Oct. 27) against Prop. 162 was an insult to teachers, police officers, firefighters and thousands of other California public servants who deserve to have their pensions protected from raids by politicians.
Prop. 162 is the California Pension Protection Act. It deserves a “yes” vote because there are currently no state or federal laws that shield public employees’ pensions from raids by elected officials.
It’s that simple. Private pensions are protected by law from raids, but public pensions are up for grabs. Is that fair?
Loopholes in current law allowed Gov. Pete Wilson and the Legislature to steal $1.9 billion in 1991 from the Public Employees Retirement System to help resolve that year’s state budget crisis. Prop. 162 will nail shut those loopholes.
The proposition actually protects taxpayers because public pensions are guaranteed by taxpayers, and retirees will benefit.
A pension is a right, not a privilege. Prop. 162 would stop political meddling in pensions. It protects the dignity of retirees who need their pensions to survive--and that’s an issue worth voting for.
YOLANDA SOLARI, President
California State Employees Assn.
Sacramento
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