Posts Tagged ‘unions’
Tuesday, February 24th, 2015
If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, then Wisconsin union leaders may be clinically insane.
Their suicidal idée fixe is on Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and his labor law reforms. You may remember how the rude, narcissistic, and counterproductive intimidation tactics employed during the Walker’s recall election backfired on them.
Indeed, it was the recall election that made Scott Walker what he is today:
The ferocity of the anti-Walker attacks during the recall attempt cannot be understated: no stone was left unturned, no “scandal” or slip of the tongue left unmentioned, and this may only help candidate Walker going into 2016. The Democrats spent millions of dollars and thousands of hours digging, scooping, ad-cutting, and hammering. They threw the kitchen sink at the guy in 2012, threw their neighbor’s sink at him in 2014, and now nobody on the block will let them inside to pee. Out of useful topsoil, what do they do now?
Had the Democrats not targeted Walker with a recall, that massive fundraiser network, the national profile, the party unity, and his highly developed get-out-the-vote team almost certainly wouldn’t exist. He may have still won re-election, but he would be just another Midwestern Republican governor who enacted reforms and faced push-back, not the conservative folk hero of a party longing for a win. He would most likely resemble Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, a reformer but hardly a man with a cult following. There would still be plenty of new problems with the governor his opposition could cite, instead of leaving him mostly vetted for 2016.
They shot the king and missed, making a balding, sleepy-eyed executive into a god among a growing horde of followers. That’s bad enough for the Progressive set. In the unlikely event he wins the Republican nomination and the presidency? They struck the match that ignited their own national hell.
And what happened after Walker’s reforms went through and public employee unions could no longer force people to join? Union membership plummeted. Over 100,000 workers availed themselves of the opportunity to escape union clutches when they were finally allowed to. That’s why unions will never forgive Scott Walker: his reforms proved that workers hated the unions that supposedly represented them.
And Walker’s success has emboldened Republicans in other states to take on unions, which has the Democratic Party terrified. “Public-employee unions are a mechanism for the involuntary transfer of taxpayers’ money to the Democratic party.”
Now Walker and the Republican legislature aim to make Wisconsin a full right to work state. Naturally, Democrats and unions (the latter being an extension of the former) are gearing up to fight it.
Strategically, I understand why Democrats and unions have to fight this fight. What I don’t understand is why the anti-Walker crowd continues to employ the same “stuck on stupid” tactics against Walker that have lost them the last three elections.
Loud, annoying protest in the capitol rotunda guaranteed to alienate swing voters? Check.
Marches? Chants? Check.
Clenched fist Socialist Realism iconography? Check.
About the only thing they’re missing from the recall circus is the drum circle.
They even sent union goons to harass Walkers’ parents at their home. Because that’s such a sure fire way to win over people.
Now word comes that Wisconsin Unions are contemplating a general strike. Presumably because they couldn’t think of anything else so likely to: A.) Fail, and B.) Lose the supporting of those few remaining independents their previous tactics hadn’t already turned off.
It’s like Wisconsin unions are doing everything they can to get Scott Walker elected President in 2016…
Tags:2012 Election, 2016 Election, 2016 Presidential Race, Democrats, Elections, Republicans, Right to Work, Scott Walker, unions, Wisconsin, Wisconsin Recall
Posted in Democrats, Elections, Republicans, unions | 1 Comment »
Thursday, February 19th, 2015
Time for another Texas vs. California roundup:
U.S. bankruptcy judge presiding over the Stockton case says pensions are not sacred and can be cut in bankruptcy. “CalPERS has bullied its way about in this case with an iron fist insisting that it and the municipal pensions it services are inviolable. The bully may have an iron fist, but it also turns out to have a glass jaw.”
Public employee pensions: Stealing from the young and poor to give to the old and rich. (Hat tip: Pension Tsunami.)
California’s entrepreneurs still think the business climate sucks. “In the 2014 survey, 63.5 percent called the small business climate poor, with just 10 saying it’s good. This year 60 percent still consider the business climate poor with 16.5 percent finding it good.”
By contrast, low oil prices won’t torpedo Texas’ economy. “Texas’ economy today is more resilient to oil price fluctuations thanks to industrial diversification and pro-growth policies.”
California’s combined capital gains tax rate is the third highest. Not third highest in the U.S., third highest in the world, lower only than Denmark and France.
How environmentalists made California’s drought worse.
Two unions are on different sides of a proposed sale of six struggling Catholic hospitals to a private company.
Defense contractor “Advantage SCI, LLC announced today that the company will relocate its headquarters to Alexandria, Virginia (Fairfax County in Old Town Alexandria) from El Segundo, California, after recognizing the high costs related to worker’s compensation, liability, and taxes that plague businesses in California.”
Coffee roaster Farmers Brothers is leaving California for either Oklahoma or Texas.
More on the Farmer Brothers relocation. “After surviving depressions, recessions, earthquakes and wars, Farmer Brothers is leaving California, finally driven out by high taxes and oppressive regulations.”
California Democrats file bills to force the state to get 50% of its energy from renewable energy by 2030. They’re basically putting up yet another big red sign to manufacturers: “We’ll make it impossibly expensive for you to do business here.”
Why health care in California is less affordable than elsewhere.
The mess that is California’s homeowner earthquake insurance.
California property owners aren’t wild about being forced to sell their land for the high speed rail boondoggle.
Arlene Wohlgemuth on why Texas should avoid the siren song of Medicare expansion. (Also, best wishes to her for a speedy recovery from her motorcycle accident.)
California’s top lifeguard pulls in a cool $236,859 in total compensation. (Hat tip: Pension Tsunami.)
“Lewd yoga dentist filed for bankruptcy.” A San Diego dentist, which is my pretext for including it here, but really, how could I not link a headline like that?
Tags:Arlene Wohlgemuth, California, CalPERs, Democrats, Energy Policy, environmentalism, health care, high speed rail, oil industry, pension crisis, Regulation, Texas, unions, Welfare State
Posted in Democrats, Regulation, Texas, unions, Waste and Fraud, Welfare State | 1 Comment »
Thursday, January 29th, 2015
To a certain extent, this Texas vs. California roundup is incomplete, since we’re hot and heavy into the new legislative session and I haven’t had a chance to fully digest the proposed budget numbers yet. By the Legislative Budget Boards numbers, they’re only projecting a 1.5% increase in the 2016-2017 biennium budget over 2014-2015. But see the first link…
Setting the story straight on the Texas budget. TPPF uses a different baseline…
California’s public employee unions would prefer that you not know how well they’re compensated.
How California’s public employees use sick leave to spike their pensions.
Supreme Court may take on California union mandatory dues case.
Though not nearly as bad as California, Texas state and local public employee pensions are also in need of reform.
California’s Kern County declares a fiscal emergency over dropping oil prices. “Collapsing crude prices are squeezing the finances of Kern County, home to three-fourths of California’s oil production.” Thankfully, oil and gas extraction is a lot more widespread in Texas.
The City of Sacramento’s unfunded liabilities have reached $2.3 billion. (Hat tip: Pension Tsunami.)
“Fresno? No one goes to Fresno anymore!” Except for job growth percentage, that is, where Fresno outpaced Silicon Valley.
Remember the Newport Beach police department firing a whistler-blower? Via Dwight comes a followup: “A husband and wife who sued Newport Beach and its police department for alleged retaliation and wrongful termination have settled their lawsuits for $500,000, according to city officials.”
“Physician-assisted suicide has returned to California’s political agenda.” Well, why not? California’s ruling Democrats have been attempting fiscal suicide for well over a decade now…
Toyota breaks ground on its new Texas headquarters.
A public school in California is having a Hijab Day.
Tags:Budget, California, Democrats, Fresno, Jihad, Kern County (CA), Legislative Budget Board, Newport Beach, oil industry, pension crisis, Sacramento, Texas, Texas Public Policy Foundation, Toyota, unions, Welfare State
Posted in Budget, Democrats, Jihad, Supreme Court, Texas, unions, Welfare State | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 21st, 2015
The working poor benefit from a lower cost of living in red states.
Five of the top ten U.S. cities in economic growth in 2014 were in Texas: Austin, Houston, Ft. Worth. Dallas and San Antonio. (There were also two in California: San Francisco and San Jose.)
The Texas Comptroller has released the Biennial Revenue Estimate 2016-2017, which estimates $113 billion in general revenue-related funds available. The report details also notes that “In the past six years, Texas created two-thirds of all net new jobs in the U.S.”
By contrast, with the California budget more or less temporarily balanced, Democrats want to start spending like drunken sailors with a stolen credit card again. Legislative analyst: You don’t want to do that.
The average CalPERS pension is up to five times comparable Social Security payouts.
Jerry Brown says he wants to tackle California’s pension crisis. Good luck with that. While Brown has occasionally been willing to buck his party, and may feel he has nothing to lose in his last term, there’s no reason to believe the Democrat-dominated state House and Senate share his sentiments. I predict a few cosmetic measures passing combined with a whole lot more can kicking until actual default looms. (Hat tip: Pension Tsunami.)
“Central Valley farmers say farming is doomed in their areas.” California’s water regulations are driving them out of business.
Stockton’s bankruptcy judge: screw secured debtors, we’ve got to start paying retirees.
Key figure in CalPERS pension fraud case apparently committed suicide. Hmmm…..
California’s Set Seal retail chain files for bankruptcy.
John G. Westine of California convicted of 26 counts of mail fraud in a phony Kentucky oil well scheme.
Bankruptcy lawyers gone wild!
Tags:bankruptcy, California, CalPERs, Crime, farming, John G. Westine, pension crisis, Stockton, Texas, unions, Welfare State
Posted in Budget, Crime, Democrats, Texas, unions, Welfare State | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 17th, 2014
Time for another Texas vs. California update:
California’s unfunded health care obligations for retired employees hits $72 billion. (Hat tip: Pension Tsunami.)
Meanwhile, the state comptroller says that California’s unfunded pension liabilities has hit $198 billion. (Ditto.)
California may extend benefits to illegal aliens taking advantage of Obama’s amnesty.
Speaking of which, both California and Texas are on the hook for providing education for illegal alien children. “Today, those figures are $14.4 billion for California and $8.5 billion for the Lone Star state.”
California will go broke if it doesn’t adopt pension reform.
Lessons for California from Texas’ boom.
Costa Mesa police union tries to pin false DUI charge on City Councilman. Hilarity ensues. (Hat tip: Dwight.) And what caused the police union to go after him? Pension reform.
Pension spiking widespread in Cosa Contra County. (Hat tip: Pension Tsunami.)
California’s high speed rail boondoggle won’t work with the current tracks.
Health industry software company vitaTrackr announces relocation of its headquarters from Baltimore to Austin.
Builders FirstSource announces expansion in San Antonio and Conroe.
Tags:amnesty, Austin, Border Controls, California, Conroe, Costa Mesa, Crime, Democrats, pension crisis, Texas, unions, Welfare State
Posted in Austin, Border Control, Crime, Democrats, Texas, unions, Welfare State | No Comments »
Friday, December 5th, 2014
Let’s jump into it:
IRS cites taxpayer confidentiality in defying a federal judge by refusing to hand over documents showing it violated taxpayer confidentiality by sharing that information with the White House.
By 2020, some 90% of Americans will be forced onto ObamaCare exchanges.
So left-wing stalwart magazine The New Republic just let several long-time editors go, reduced their publishing schedule from 20 issues a year to 10, and put a former Gawker-person in charge as editor, which is just short of putting up a sign reading “Dead Magazine Walking.” John Podhoretz traces their decline to the age of Obama:
I think the answer is that there never was any Obamaism to champion; there was no serious vision of America and the world being laid out by the administration that provided fertile ground out for intellectual cultivation, for voices on the outside to make sense of that serious vision and help it cohere into an argument. (In the 1980s, ironically, it was the New Republic‘s own Charles Krauthammer who did just that in explicating the “Reagan Doctrine,” though even more ironically, he did it in the pages of Time Magazine rather than in TNR.)
What there was, instead, was the increasing reliance on the cheap-shottery of the Internet era—in which TNR and others were driven more by a kind of grinding loathing of the Right than by an effort to create a more effective and serious Center-Left. The magazine foundered because liberals foundered, because Obamaism was a cult of personality that demanded fealty rather than a philosophy that demanded explication.
Also: I was unaware that The Weekly Standard had twice the circulation of The New Republic. And you should check out the rest of that piece, not least for the perfect title…
And speaking of Podhoretz, his New York Post piece on why Hillary’s supposed cakewalk to the Democratic nomination is a sign of party weakness is well worth reading: “Hillary Clinton has no natural claim to her party’s nomination. She’s not even an especially gifted politician. Aside from the spectacular incompetence of her 2008 campaign, she is as gaffe-prone as Dan Quayle and as awkward as Bob Dole.”
For the left, the truth no longer matters. “For the Left, this is all tribal, white hats vs. black hats. Fraternity members and police officers are, in their view, by definition on the wrong side of every dispute.”
Mary Landrieu isn’t just going to get beat in Saturday’s runoff, she’s primed to get slaughtered, trailing in the latest polls by 24 points.
European “austerity” isn’t.
The European economic crisis has gotten so bad that traditional left-wing and right-wing parties are thinking of teaming up to thwart newly ascendent Euroskeptic parties.
Fracking is kicking Putin’s ass. (Hat tip: Instapundit.)
Battles with jihadists kill 20 in Chechan capital of Grozny. I guess December is rerun season in Russia as well…
Wisconsin might be getting ready to pass right-to-work legislation. Hey Wisconsin unions: How’d that whole “recall” thing work out for you? “You come at the king, you best not miss.”
Evidently teenage boys have too many cooties to be taken in at the Salvation Army. (Hat tip: Instapundit.)
How PBS lied about Ferguson.
The Rolling Stone story of an alleged gang rape at a University of Virginia fraternity continues to unravel. If there was an actual gang rape, the perpetrators should be arrested and tried. If not, Rolling Stone has some editorial house-cleaning to perform…
Breitbart demolishes Lena Dunham’s “raped by a Republican” story. Plus this nugget from a liberal college administrator “‘Asking whether or not a victim is telling the truth is irrelevant,’ Ms. Hess proclaimed. ‘It’s just not important if they are telling the truth.'”
On the same theme:
Andrew Klavan on #GamerGate and the immense gozangas on display in Soul Caliber. Nice shirt! (Hat tip: Instapundit.)
The UK announced they’re finally going to pay off their World War I debt. Governments come and go, but sovereign debt is almost immortal…
Another day, another 36 people killed by jihadists in Kenya.
In Denmark, “27 percent of male descendant of immigrants from non-Western countries aged 20-24 years were convicted of an offense in 2013.”
Shakespeare First Folio found.
Newly discovered Ayn Rand novel to be published.
And speaking of Rand, her longtime disciple/lover Nathaniel Branden died at age 84. I’m sure he would be deeply offended at the suggestion he’s gone on to the afterlife…
Detroit man steals ambulance to go to a topless bar.
I have no joke here, I just like typing Vegan Strip Club Riot.
Tags:#GamerGate, 2014 Election, 2016 Presidential Race, Andrew Klavan, Ayn Rand, Chechnya, debt, Democrats, Denmark, Detroit, European Debt Crisis, Grozny, Hillary Clinton, Jihad, John Podhoretz, Kenya, LinkSwarm, Media Watch, Nathaniel Branden, Russia, Social Justice Warriors, The New Republic, unions, video, Wisconsin
Posted in Democrats, Elections, Foreign Policy, Jihad, Media Watch, Obama Scandals, unions, video | 1 Comment »
Thursday, December 4th, 2014
It’s another Texas vs. California update!
The real reason the University of California system is raising taxes: “The real driving force behind the tuition hike is the university’s woefully underfunded pension system, which currently serves 56,000 retired employees. It’s a generous system, despite some reductions the university made for new hires in recent years. An Associated Press analysis found 2,129 retired UC employees collect pensions of more than $100,000 a year; 57 receive more than $200,000; and three receive more than $300,000.” (Hat tip: Pension Tsunami.)
Here’s the rare Texas vs. California item where both Texas and California get dinged: “Calpers holds about 75% of its portfolio in stocks and other risky assets, such as real estate, private equity and, until recently, hedge funds, despite offering benefits that, unlike IRAs or 401(k)s, it guarantees against market risk. Most other states are little different: Illinois holds 75% in risky assets; the Texas teachers’ plan holds 81%.”
A look at the relative pension costs of three bankrupt California cities: San Bernardino, Stockton and Vallejo. (Hat tip: Pension Tsunami.)
Magpul, is moving its headquarters from newly gun-hostile Colorado to Austin. This is on top of moving its manufacturing facilities to Wyoming.
“Something is happening in California. An unstoppable movement for reform is building, attracting support from conscientious Californians.” Much as I’d like to believe it, I remain skeptical that real education and pension reform can happen in California as long as it remains a one-party Democratic state… (Hat tip: Pension Tsunami.)
How California’s three-decades old Proposition 65 is threatening to bankrupt small businesses and enrich trial lawyers.
California: Roads? We don’t need no stinking roads. 57% of San Diego County’s projected infrastructure spending is on mass transportation…and critics are saying that’s not enough.
I’m surprised that I stumbled on this piece on the Newport Beach Police Department before Dwight did:
In recent years, daily examples of faithful public service inside the Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) have been overshadowed by alarming corruption. City officials ignore or downplay the misconduct, but NBPD bosses turned the agency into a darker, stupider version of Animal House. Court records and internal documents show the city’s boys in blue have accepted gratuities in exchange for favors, gotten frat-boy drunk at work, lied under oath, passed out confidential information to pals, encouraged oral sex from female job applicants, committed wild adultery on duty, doctored official reports, hurled feces, dished out horrific domestic violence against wives and girlfriends, engaged in intoxicated bar fights, issued criminal threats, vandalized property, converted powerful agency spy equipment to personal use, and rigged promotion systems to ensure mostly see-no-evil, management-loyal employees rise–and let the hijinks continue.
Plus open war against whistle-blowers.
Speaking of public employees behaving badly, from Dwight comes this story of LA firemen being investigated for faking certifications.
Texas home sales reach their highest level in five years.
The headquarters of national buyer’s co-op NATM Buying Corp. is moving from Long island, New York to Irving, Texas.
Finally, in case you missed it a few days ago, three Texas budget links from the Texas Public Policy Foundation:
A detailed call for greater transparency in the Texas budget
A look at what an actual conservative Texas budget would look like; and
A real Texas Budget Worksheet, with historical budget data.
Tags:Budget, California, CalPERs, Magpul, Newport Beach, San Bernardino, Stockton, Texas, Texas Public Policy Foundation, unions, University of California, Vallejo, Welfare State
Posted in Budget, Democrats, Texas, unions, Welfare State | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 26th, 2014
Who knows how many people will read this in the rush of Thanksgiving travel:
Texas’ economy continues to kick ass.
In fact, Texas set a record for new jobs for the third month in a row. (Hat tip: The Twitter feed of Texas’ incoming governor.)
Texas also leads the nation in oil and gas jobs created. (Hat tip: Texas’ incoming Comptroller.)
CalPERS retirees will soon soon outnumber active workers. (Hat tip: Pension Tsunami.)
California’s death by pensions.
Bankrupt San Bernardino caves in to CalPERS.
Still, court rulings make it possible that bankrupt cities may shed pension obligations in the future.
You know how California’s Prop 30 tax hikes in 2012 were supposed to prevent university pension hikes? Guess what? “Despite the massive tax hikes ostensibly to keep higher education affordable, the University of California Board of Regents just announced a sizable increase in tuition.” Let’s hope that students at California universities learn the proper lesson: tax hikes are never temporary.
Indeed, tuition will increase around $15,000 by 2019.
The underfunded liabilities across all California pension systems adds up to $130 billion.
Pension crisis divides California Democrats on UC tuition hikes.
Demands from union-backed environmental group torpedo plans for a Japanese-owned factory in Palmdale, California.
Education reform loses in California.
California is spending $33 million to get rid of 800 non-endangered birds.
Costa Mesa motel residents sue over a law requiring them to move every 30 days.
Some Tweets:
Tags:Budget, California, Democrats, pension crisis, San Bernardino, Texas, unions, Welfare State
Posted in Budget, Democrats, Texas, unions, Welfare State | 1 Comment »
Thursday, October 23rd, 2014
With all this election news popping up, this may be the last Texas cs. California roundup until after November 4:
New poverty figures are out from the Census. To quote a Texas Public Policy Foundation email about them: “The government report shows that, when accounting for some cost of living differences from state-to-state, Texas’ poverty rate dipped 0.5 percent to 15.9, the national average. Meanwhile, California still has the nation’s highest poverty rate at 23.4 percent. ”
“Back in 2005, some 1,841 retirees pulled down more than $100,000 a year in pension checks from the California Public Employees’ Retirement System. By 2009, this so-called “$100K club” had more than tripled, to 6,133 members. And by the end of 2013, membership had nearly tripled again, to 16,838, according to data from CalPERS.” (Hat tip: Pension Tsunami)
“How CalPERS ranks: average service, high costs.” (Ditto)
“With the Los Angeles Unified School District Board ready to fire Superintendent John Deasy, he resigned as head of the nation’s second-largest public school system just six months after he spiked his annual salary to $384,184 with $54,184 in buy-outs.” Bonus: Deasy came from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where he pushed Common Core.
The police union is suing the city of Vallejo for cuts made to their pensions during the city’s bankruptcy. if they win, they could push the city into bankruptcy again.
Among those 99 CalPERS pension-spiking buffs: Library Reference Desk Premium, Front Desk Assignment Premium and Audio-Visual Premium. “Hey look, I plugged the projector into my laptop! Give me a pension bonus, California taxpayers!” (Pension Tusnami again.)
California plows forward with drivers licenses for illegal aliens.
San Francisco landlords win in court: “A federal judge ruled Tuesday that San Francisco cannot solve its housing shortage by requiring landlords, through a relocation assistance ordinance, to retroactively pay massive amounts to evict tenants under California’s Ellis Act.”
A California athlete earning a gross of $20 million a year is down to $9,100,000 remaining after taxes and commissions.
Though Texas is doing better than California when it comes to pensions, there’s no reason not to move from a defined benefit plan to 401Ks for new hires.
Tags:Border Controls, California, CalPERs, Illegal Aliens, pension crisis, San Francisco, Texas, unions, Welfare State
Posted in Border Control, Democrats, Texas, Welfare State | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 15th, 2014
Since they linked to me yesterday, I’ve finally done what I’ve meant to do for a long time, namely get up off my ass and add Pension Tsunami to the Blogroll. They offer a great daily news roundup on the looming unionized public sector pension crisis that threatens to bankrupt cities and states across the country (especially California).
I’ve also added the new “California/Pensions/Unions/Etc.” link category and moved Kausfiles there as well.
Expect more additions to that blog category Real Soon Now.
Tags:Budget, California, Democrats, links, pension crisis, Site Administration, unions, Welfare State
Posted in Budget, Democrats, unions, Welfare State | No Comments »
