As campaigns were busy heading
into their final GOTV weekend on Friday, the ever-vigilant watchdogs –
Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA) and California Pension
Reform – were winning another one for the gipper.
HJTA and CA Pension Reform struck pay dirt on Friday in the battle
against out-of-control pensions, as a Judge ordered the Orange County
Employee Retirement System (OCERS) to turn over public records
detailing lavish government employee pensions. As a result, the O.C.
retirement system must release the names, gross pension amounts (and
believe me, they are gross), and the last employing agency from which
the worker retired.
HJTA’s crack attorney Tim Bittle represented Marcia Fritz in the case.
Many know Marcia from her tireless work on behalf of Taxpayers to shed
light on California’s runaway pension crisis over the past year.
The court victory comes on the heels of similar victories in Contra
Costa County and Stanislaus County, which also ruled that information
regarding government employees’ pensions is, in fact, public record.
Why does this matter? California has been sliding deeper and deeper
into the red as a result of pensions run amok, while state and local
bureaucrats retire with gold-plated, six-figure salaries every year for
the rest of their lives. A system which is truly unsustainable. For
years, pension deals have been cut in dark, back-room deals with
government employee Unions – far from public sight. But not anymore.
These court orders send a strong message that the public has the right
to know what they are paying for. And know we will. Keep it tuned here
to see what your Tax dollars are paying for.