Gov. Jerry Brown is raising the bar -- for some of the folks his opponents say he can't say no to.
The state's public employees would work longer under Brown's pension reform plan, which raises the retirement age for most new employees 55 to 67, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The scheme would not affect current prison guards, cops, firefighters, teachers, and other folks who draw pay from the state of California. Speaking of cops and firefighters and other public safety employees, they would be able to get off of the streets and into retirement with full benefits prior to 67, "depending on their ability to perform their jobs," according to the newspaper.
Workers would also pay more towards their benefits in Brown's plan to halt the state's runaway pension train. Brown's plan could save the state up to $11 billion dollars over the coming years, according to the newspaper.
The plan would cut off pension benefits for anyone committing a felony, would limit double-dipping -- limiting "retired" employees' abilities to continue to work while collecting a pension -- and would require employees to pay at least half of their pension benefits.
The plan received a "mixed response" from Republicans in the Legislature, who simultaneously welcomed the governor adopting ideas "Republicans have pushed for years" while slamming the plan as inadequate.
Sections of the plan, such as those which would impact local government's pensions, would require approval at the ballot box. Brown introduced a similar pension reform plan last year that Democrats in the Legislature kiboshed.
