On February 6th, Jennifer Wadsworth wrote a column for San Jose Inside discussing Mayor Chuck Reed’s lawsuit against the ballot language published by the California Attorney General for his statewide pension initiative. She quotes Reed as accusing the AG of failing to give voters a “true and impartial summary” of the initiative.
But Wadsworth fails to alert readers to the facts that demonstrate Reed’s dubious credibility on this type of issue.
That’s a whopper.
Just two years ago, the ballot language that Reed approved for San Jose’s pension initiative, Measure B, was significantly modified by the 6th District Court of Appeals because it was “impermissibly partisan.” The changes the Court ordered are presented below; they clearly constitute major changes in language, not cosmetic alterations.
Wadsworth should certainly have known of Reed’s record; the Court of Appeals rejection of Reed’s “impermissibly partisan” language was reported in San Jose Inside on April 10, 2012.
Original Language:
PENSION REFORM: To protect essential services, including neighborhoods police patrols, fire stations, libraries, community centers, streets and parks, shall the Charter be amended to reform retirement benefits of City employees and retirees by: increasing employees’ contributions, establishing a voluntary
reduced pension plan for current employees, establishing pension cost and benefit limitations for new employees, modify disability retirement procedures, temporarily suspend retiree COLAs during emergencies, require voter approval for increases in future benefits?
Court Ordered Language:
PENSION MODIFICATION: Shall the Charter be amended to modify retirement benefits of City employees and retirees by: increasing employees’ contributions, establishing a voluntary reduced pension plan for current employees, establish pension cost and benefit limitations for new employees, modify disability retirement procedures, temporarily suspend retiree COLAs during emergencies, require voter approval for increases in future pension benefits?
Bob Brownstein is Director of Policy and Research for Working Partnerships USA.
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