(The Center Square) – A newly proposed bill would create pensions for state legislators and allow their time in office to count toward their time as government workers for other government pensions. Critics warn the change would further increase legislative dominance by government workers, who already make up the vast majority of lawmakers.
The California Constitution currently bars state legislators from receiving retirement benefits for their time as members of the State Assembly or State Senate. ACA 2 from Assemblyman Corey Jackson, D-Moreno Valley, titled the “Legislative Diversification Act,” would end the ban, and does not include any guidelines for requiring employee contributions to retirement, as other government jobs do.
The constitutional amendment, which would retroactively apply to legislators starting in 2010, would need to be approved by two-thirds of both of the state’s legislative bodies, then earn the support of a majority of California voters in a statewide election.
“Retirement planning is a significant consideration for many Californians, and the absence of pension benefits may discourage qualified individuals, particularly those without substantial personal financial resources, from pursuing service in the Legislature,” wrote Jackson. “This lack of equitable access undermines the diversity and representativeness of the Legislature, to the detriment of the people of California.”
Experts warn the amendment could reduce the professional diversity among lawmakers by further increasing already-overwhelming representation by government and nonprofit workers, who in turn support their former employers with funding and legislation.
“Public employee unions would underwrite the ‘yes’ campaign as a quid pro quo for the legislators doing their business,” said government and pension finance expert and former state Sen. John Moorlach to The Center Square. “I would label it as a government staffer retirement benefit continuation bill, encouraging current government employees to run for the Legislature.”
“In an era of term limits, it would give Democrat legislators an opportunity to groom staffers to succeed them,” continued Moorlach.
According to an analysis by the California Policy Center, a conservative think tank, of legislators’ professional backgrounds, 64% of state legislators have no prior professional experience outside of government or nonprofits — including 34% of Republicans and 75% of Democrats.
