Public Employee Unions Rule California

[Kamaji]

Public Employee Unions Rule California

Expect more strikes, fewer government services, and more tax increases to pay for pension obligations.

STEVEN GREENHUT
8.18.2023

One official remarked years ago that his county essentially was a pension provider that offered a few public services on the side. It was a snarky reminder that public-employee compensation—especially those exorbitant pensions paid at relatively young ages—consumed the bulk of municipal budgets. It's the tail wagging the dog.

The same dynamic is at work at the state level. State Sen. Steve Glazer (D–Orinda) last month made waves for a column he penned in The Los Angeles Times. Commenting on the recently passed $310-billion budget that ramps up funding for all the usual progressive priorities, he dared to say what everyone in Sacramento knows—even if saying so breaks social taboos.

"(W)e've already spent billions of dollars on the same problems—with very little to show for it," he wrote. "Our failures are evidence that good intentions and lots of money are not enough to fix what ails the Golden State. To make our progressive beliefs mean anything, the Legislature must ensure that the money we spend is actually improving the lives of the people we say we are committed to helping."

His "solutions" aren't significant enough to mention in detail, but Glazer made reference to "special interest demands" and legislators "caving in to the unions." That at least acknowledges the proverbial elephant in the room. Public employee unions exert excessive influence and capture the bulk of new spending for themselves. It's not only a Democratic problem. The state GOP is beholden to the biggest offenders (police and firefighters' unions).

This session, Assemblyman Heath Flora (R–Modesto) authored Assembly Bill 1254, which would grant automatic pay raises forever to state firefighters to bring their current average compensation ($200,000 to $253,000 a year) up to the rates of better-compensated municipal firefighters, which pay 15% to 40% more. This Editorial Board referred to the bill as "hands down the most irresponsible union-giveaway proposal this year."

If you wonder why there's never enough money and why lawmakers always look for new ways to raise taxes, then take a look at the Transparent California website, which details state and local compensation packages. For instance, I count more than 200 California Highway Patrol employees who in 2022 earned above $400,000 in total compensation, with the top earner receiving $777,000.

*  *  *

Source:  https://reason.com/2023/08/18/public-employee-unions-rule-california/