Brown-Whitman Debate: Pension talk

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Jerry Brown provoked the first bits of laughter in the gubernatorial debate when discussing his own state pension.

‘Let’s get something real clear. If everyone in state service worked as long as I have, the pension system would be overfunded by 50%,’ he said.

Brown said the last three governors have ignored his calls for a two-tiered pensipon system, something he says he first called for in 1982. He cited the attorney general’s office’s investigation into pension abuses in the city of Bell.

Whitman said a candidate ‘cannot be beholden to the public-sector employees,’ and said Brown’s campaign contributions make him unable to negotiate with unions. She said she wants to increase retirement ages for state employees and increase vesting periods and employee pension contributions.

Brown cited Whitman’s contributions from people ‘who will get an immediate tax break’ from Whitman’s tax-cutting plan.

-- Anthony York in Davis