Dear Legislators,We find ourselves amazed that fewstate legislators and their staffs know about CoveredCA. They should take a test spin, which takes less than a minute. Eg, say you are a 53 year old retired prison guard with a $90,000 annual pension who lives in Sacramento with a spouse age 53 and two kids ages … Continue reading Legislators Should Test Drive CoveredCA
Category: OPEB
Other Post-Employment Benefits
The CA Giveaway: Part II
Dear Legislators,Like most employers, the State provides health insurance to active employees. But unlike most employers, the State also provides health insurance to retired employees and their dependents. Believe it or not: The State spends ~$9,000 in insurance subsidies per year per retired state employee and ~$8,000 per year per dependent, even exceeding the average … Continue reading The CA Giveaway: Part II
Medicare Not Enough For Retired CA Employees
Earlier today, US Congressman Ro Khanna gave us an opportunity to point out something we've been waiting for some CA state legislators to discover: https://twitter.com/DavidGCrane/status/1352370800771256320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1352370800771256320%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fgovernforcalifornia.org%2Fnews%2F2021%2F1%2F21%2Fmedicare-not-enough-for-retired-ca-employees Every year the California Legislature supplies more than Medicare to retired state employees. In fact, the state spends nearly $5 billion a year to supply retired state employees with more … Continue reading Medicare Not Enough For Retired CA Employees
Willpower
A word often heard by those of us who worked for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was "willpower," which he considers a core ingredient for success when faced with obstacles that everyone else thinks can't be moved. On many occasions willpower worked its magic, even in Sacramento. But after the State Senate removed me from a state … Continue reading Willpower
Retiree Health Subsidies Explained
Dear Legislators,We are pleased that more and more of you are eager to address the billions you unnecessarily divert every year from services to extravagant insurance subsidies for retired state employees ("Retiree Health Subsidies," or "RHS"). Following are some basic facts followed by a list of reform opportunities. RHS should not be confused with pensions. … Continue reading Retiree Health Subsidies Explained
Donor Rejection
Here's something Assembly Members Luz Rivas, David Chiu, Richard Bloom and Buffy Wicks don't want their constituents to know: - Start at https://www.calhr.ca.gov/labor-relations/Pages/Unit-06-Corrections.aspx, where you will see a list of 21 "Bargaining Units" that represent state employees who get paid billions of dollars per year upon the approval of state legislators and the governor. The … Continue reading Donor Rejection
The Excellence Of Covered California
At a time when criticism is leveled at CA's government for poorly performing agencies such as the Employment Development Department, it's important to point out excellently performing agencies such as Covered California. Now that I'm on Medicare I no longer need CC but my wife and daughter do and it is a marvel. Application and … Continue reading The Excellence Of Covered California
Fixing CA’s Ugliest Secret
Dear Legislators, In a world in which The Intercept is criticizing biotech firm Moderna for potentially collecting $10 billion for creating a life-saving COVID vaccine, how do you think you should be viewed for the $10 billion you shower on CA state prison employees every single year? After six increases since 2010, salaries alone top … Continue reading Fixing CA’s Ugliest Secret
$7,152,548
As 2020 comes to a close, we are pleased to report that GFC raised $7,152,548 during the 2019-20 legislative session. Launched in 2011 with seed funding from three donors (Ron Conway, Greg Penner and me), today GFC has nearly 900 donors plus 16 chapters that together are among the most powerful forces in Sacramento. Special … Continue reading $7,152,548
CA Must End This Giveaway In 2021
Dear Legislators, We know how much you fear public employee unions but in 2021 you must finally address an expense in their favor — let's call it "The Giveaway" — needlessly costing the state, local governments, transit agencies and schools more than $10 billion per year. You provide medical and prescription drug benefits to retired … Continue reading CA Must End This Giveaway In 2021