Brown’s Pension Reform Plan Receives Mixed Reaction

On Thursday, Gov. Jerry Brown (D) unveiled a 12-point pension reform plan that would increase public employees' contributions toward health care costs, raise the retirement age to 67 for most new employees who are not in public safety positions and implement a "hybrid" system featuring a traditional pension combined with a 410(k)-style investment. The California Chamber of Commerce, the California Business Roundtable and some Republican lawmakers praised the plan, while labor groups objected to key proposals of the plan. Brown acknowledged that his plan likely will encounter difficulty in the Legislature, which is controlled by Democrats who have close political ties to labor groups.

• "Gov. Jerry Brown Risks Backlash on Pension Plan" (York/Mishak, Los Angeles Times, 10/28).
• "Jerry Brown's Pension Package Faces Skeptical Legislature" (Siders, Sacramento Bee, 10/28).
• "Brown Proposes Sweeping Changes in Public Employee Pensions" (Herdt, Ventura County Star, 10/27).