Author: Anthony Pignataro

Crossposted www.calwatchdog.org

One of the few actual, honest issues in the California governor’s race has also been one of the least reported. And while it’s an old issue – dating back to 1977 – it’s nonetheless fascinating.

"Back when Jerry Brown https:> was governor nearly 35 years ago, in his first day in office, he gave public service unions the right to collective bargaining," Republican Meg Whitman https:> said back in April. Her time was off by two years, but the point of her argument was true enough: that granting public employee unions the right to bargain collectively for better pay and benefits paved the way for our state’s current unfunded pension liabilities, which may top half a trillion dollars.