Green Party says governor really only half right in surprise decision to drop plan to privatize public employee pension system

GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA NEWS ADVISORY
For immediate release: Thursday, April 7, 2005

Contacts:
Cres Vellucci, State Press Office, 916-996-1970,
Beth Moore Haines, GPCA Spokesperson, 530-277-0610,
Kevin McKeown, GPCA Spokesperson, 310-393-3639,
Sara Amir, GPCA Spokesperson, 310-270-7106,

SACRAMENTO (April 7, 2005) – The Green Party of California – commenting on Gov. Schwarzenegger's surprise announcement Thursday to drop a plan to privatize California's public employee pension system – said the governor is really only half right.

"Our local police and firefighters were very concerned, and correctly so, about the Governor's ill-conceived privatization of their pensions," said Santa Monica City Council Member Kevin McKeown.

Many, including the Attorney General and the police and fire chiefs and survivors of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty, have cautioned the governor that the suggested initiative ballot language could result in employees losing death and disability payments

"Now if only we can convince the Governor that our teachers and nurses are local heroes, like our public safety officers, and their jobs deserve protection, too," added McKeown, a Green Party of California spokesperson.

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The Green Party of California
http://www.cagreens.org
P.O. Box 2828, Sacramento, CA 95812
Phone: (916) 448-3437
gpca@greens.org