Quote:
Originally Posted by the urban politician
The question is whether California made the same dumb ass Constitutional amendment that Illinois did to prevent any reduction in pension benefits. Is California as blindingly beholden to unions at the expense of all other taxpayers, like Illinois is? Does California have flexibility in the system? Can the entire State be beholden to a single despot who never retires, the way Illinois is with Mike Madigan? That is the true question to ask
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The issue of union influence may be one way in which the states are similar. Certain public employee unions--nurses, prison guards--are very powerful in California. One recent governor, Gray Davis, was impeached and removed from office largely because of his coziness with unions. But Davis WAS removed and the initiative process does give California voters the power to defeat unions when the situation requires it.