California Dreaming About Pension Conflicts of Interest
A few months ago, California Governor Schwarzenegger created the Public Employee Post-Employment Benefits Commission. Tasked with identifying the nature of their $49 billion unfunded liability for state retirement programs, this group must submit a report to the Governor and state legislators by January 1, 2008 that (a) quantifies unfunded post-employment health care and dental benefits for which the state is obliged to pay (b) assesses and compares possible solutions to address unfunded liabilities and (c) recommends which course of action makes sense. Click here to read the official press release about the Commission. Click here to access the names, titles and affiliations of the original appointees.A few weeks ago, San Francisco Chronicle reporter Greg Lucas wrote that two of the dozen members, including the head of the commission, have business ties with California pension funds. Not surprisingly, eyebrows raised. In response, "Schwarzenegger administration officials and CalPERS -- the nation's largest institutional investor -- say there is no conflict between the two commission members' private business ties and their role on the commission, but some independent observers say the connection could harm the credibility of the panel's recommendations." Click here to read "Pension reform panelists' ties to firms questioned" (San Francisco Chronicle - March 8, 2007).
Call me crazy but doesn't it make sense to remove any doubt about the ability for commission members to render an impartial analysis? The persons in question may be the most honest of men. I don't know them personally. What I do know is that this type of news is likely to be yet another nail in the coffin of uncomplicated pension reform. I've spoken to countless taxpayers across this great country who are starting to wake up and smell the cappuccino. They are not happy about the prospect of soaring taxes to fund these benefits and even less satisfied with the way change is proceeding.
Kudos to Governor Schwarzenegger for creating the Commission in the first place. However, for a task so important -- huge dollars at stake and millions of plan participants -- why keep dreaming that no one will mind a few conflicts of interest, perceived or actual? Click here to read an earlier post about taxpayer angst over unfunded public pension plan liabilities.
