Politics & Government

Lake Elsinore Lawmaker Supports Governor's Pension Reform

"The Governor deserves to have his plan taken seriously in the Legislature, and I am proud to co-author this bill."

“A lot of good policy gets lost in the partisan fight.”

That’s what the Republican assemblyman from Lake Elsinore had to say Wednesday after he announced in a news release that he had joined a group of lawmakers in co-authoring legislation to place Gov. Jerry Brown's "12-Point Pension Reform" plan on the November ballot. 

Speaking by phone, said the governor's plan offers “moderate reforms” that are a “very good starting point for discussion in the capitol.”

Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In his news release, Jeffries said, “The Governor's proposal includes pension cost sharing, eliminating the ability to artificially 'spike' pension benefits, prohibiting those who commit felonies in the line of duty from collecting taxpayer-funded pensions, raising the retirement age, and limiting post-retirement government services, among other reforms."

Click the attached PDF to read an overview of the governor’s plan.

Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Jeffries said there are still hurdles in getting the legislation on the ballot, and during Wednesday’s brief interview he explained that Republican support for the governor’s plan was unclear.

But he reiterated that the reform is needed. In his news release, he said, “The Governor deserves to have his plan taken seriously in the Legislature, and I am proud to co-author this bill.  This bill would also require that these reforms be placed before the voters, so that they may decide whether this plan is appropriate, and to ensure that future legislators cannot gut these reforms without voter approval."

On Feb. 2, the governor delivered his proposed pension reform language to leaders of the state legislature’s Conference Committee on Public Employee Pensions. To read the full text, click here.


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