Jimmie Higgins
17th July 2011, 14:23
I don't know how much of a treat these particular initiatives really are at this point, but it's more evidence that the sharks smell blood and are making a broad effort to attack unions, public education and all workers ultimately.
But also this is just a bit of fun right-wing "astro-turf" spotting. So a "non-partisan" group headed by:
Lanny Ebenstein
Adjunct Scholar (Cato Inst.)
Lanny Ebenstein, adjunct scholar, is the author of Friedrich Hayek: A Biography, the first English language biography of Hayek, and Hayek's Journey: The Mind of Friedrich Hayek. His most recent book is Milton Friedman: A Biography. He is a visiting professor at the University of California at Santa Barbara. Ebenstein received his Ph.D. from the London School of Economics.
And with a board of directors which includes the Tea-Party endorsed Republican Congressional candidate from Southern Coastal California, a President from a Californian Chamber of Commerce and various people just listed as "Businessman" has just begun the process to put initiatives on the next election.
He said he filed the three initiatives (http://www.californiacenterforpublicpolicy.com/initiative.html) Tuesday with the state attorney general's office.
The first measure would ban recognition of all public-sector labor unions and prevent government authorities from collectively bargaining with them.
The second would impose a higher tax burden on pensions paid through CalPERS or CalSTRS. Someone who earns an annual pension of $100,000 to $150,000 would pay 15 percent above the regular state income tax on the pension. The rate would jump to 25 percent for any pensions above $150,000. Health benefits would not be considered in the calculation. Ebenstein said the tax would eventually raise $1 billion a year for the state.
The third would raise the retirement age for state employees to 65. Public safety workers would see their retirement age rise to 58.
Read more: http://blogs.sacbee.com/the_state_worker/2011/07/california-bid-to-end-collective-bargaini.html#ixzz1SMsgaTYw
I don't really have much to say except - what bullshit! The right wing is organized folks - the Public Service representative in the above article mocked the initiatives saying that it's "out of sync" with Californians and that this group won't be able to raise the money to get these on the ballot. I think that's an underestimation of the national political mood at the top and the opportunity the ruling class sees in rolling back tons of rights.
But also this is just a bit of fun right-wing "astro-turf" spotting. So a "non-partisan" group headed by:
Lanny Ebenstein
Adjunct Scholar (Cato Inst.)
Lanny Ebenstein, adjunct scholar, is the author of Friedrich Hayek: A Biography, the first English language biography of Hayek, and Hayek's Journey: The Mind of Friedrich Hayek. His most recent book is Milton Friedman: A Biography. He is a visiting professor at the University of California at Santa Barbara. Ebenstein received his Ph.D. from the London School of Economics.
And with a board of directors which includes the Tea-Party endorsed Republican Congressional candidate from Southern Coastal California, a President from a Californian Chamber of Commerce and various people just listed as "Businessman" has just begun the process to put initiatives on the next election.
He said he filed the three initiatives (http://www.californiacenterforpublicpolicy.com/initiative.html) Tuesday with the state attorney general's office.
The first measure would ban recognition of all public-sector labor unions and prevent government authorities from collectively bargaining with them.
The second would impose a higher tax burden on pensions paid through CalPERS or CalSTRS. Someone who earns an annual pension of $100,000 to $150,000 would pay 15 percent above the regular state income tax on the pension. The rate would jump to 25 percent for any pensions above $150,000. Health benefits would not be considered in the calculation. Ebenstein said the tax would eventually raise $1 billion a year for the state.
The third would raise the retirement age for state employees to 65. Public safety workers would see their retirement age rise to 58.
Read more: http://blogs.sacbee.com/the_state_worker/2011/07/california-bid-to-end-collective-bargaini.html#ixzz1SMsgaTYw
I don't really have much to say except - what bullshit! The right wing is organized folks - the Public Service representative in the above article mocked the initiatives saying that it's "out of sync" with Californians and that this group won't be able to raise the money to get these on the ballot. I think that's an underestimation of the national political mood at the top and the opportunity the ruling class sees in rolling back tons of rights.