George would like to thank you for his $172,000 a year pay!

What is it that George does that is so important that you give him $172,000 a year? Well, ah, nothing actually. You see, George is a retired government worker. George is representative of the 12,175 retired state and local pensioners making between $100,000 to $500,000 a year.

When you pay your rent or property tax, you pay George’s house payment. When you pay your Vehicle License Fee, you pay George’s car payment. And when you pay the highest sales tax in the nation, you pay for a night on the town for George.

High pensions and early retirements are a big reason California is in such a financial mess. Instead of cutting back on George’s exorbitant pension, the politicians are laying off teachers and have stopped the hiring of police officers.

The situation is getting worse. Tens of thousands of more government workers that will make over $100,000 a year plus expensive healthcare benefits are about to retire, some as early as age 50. This will mean higher class sizes in our schools, less police officers on the streets and even higher taxes.

The other candidates for the 50th State Assembly seat are government workers that may be looking forward to a cushy pension like George’s. The voters cannot rely on them to reform California’s out-of-control public pension system.

When Art Olivier was the Mayor of Bellflower, he introduced and passed a motion to eliminate lifetime medical benefits for himself and future City Council members. To get California out of the financial mess we are in, we need legislators like Art Olivier who will unselfishly look out for the people instead of the special interest groups that are bankrupting our state.