With Republicans Like These, Who Needs Democrats?

Steven Greenhut critiques the California Republican Party's approach to fiscal responsibility, especially in regard to union-associated legislation. Despite publicly opposing Democrats’ spending initiatives, many GOP members have supported bills that significantly increase public-employee pensions.

1. Republican Leadership's Actions: The California GOP Senate leader distributed "NO" buttons as a symbolic gesture against the Democrats' spending bills. However, many Republicans voted in favor of bills that they publicly criticized.

2. Pension Bills Overview: The two controversial measures, Assembly Bill 1383 and Assembly Bill 1054, aim to enhance public-employee pensions. These bills undermine previous reforms that were implemented to control pension costs during a budget crisis.

3. Historical Context: The Public Employees' Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) was designed to stabilize pension costs by adjusting benefits for new hires. Various pension systems offered generous retirement plans, resulting in higher costs for municipalities.

4. Union Influence: Although unions do not directly fund legislators, their significant support in campaigns can influence politicians’ decisions, causing them to back pension increases aligned with union interests.

5. Details of the Bills: AB 1383 would allow agencies to increase benefits, effectively reversing the reforms of PEPRA. AB 1054 enables public employees to retire and simultaneously remain as employees, raising questions about the necessity of such measures amidst a supposed labor shortage.

6. Current Financial Implications: The funding for California's pension systems, particularly CalPERS, stands at 85%, and concerns about economic corrections are present. The urgency of these new pension bills is viewed as unnecessary given the stable nature of employment in key public sectors.

7. Republican Collaboration with Democrats: The article explains that many Republicans are now aligning with Democrats and unions instead of advocating for stringent fiscal policies. This collaboration casts doubt on their commitment to genuine fiscal responsibility.

Greenhut argues that the actions and votes of California Republican lawmakers indicate a troubling shift away from the principles of fiscal responsibility in favor of union-backed pension increases. With legislative efforts leading to a rollback of well-intentioned reforms, the potential for repeating past fiscal mistakes looms large if these bills are signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. 

https://spectator.org/with-republicans-like-these-who-needs-democrats/