Pensions

California has a huge long-term debt to pay for the retirement health care benefits it promised to state workers. But today, Gov. Newsom wants immediate budget savings and public employees want money in their pockets.

California firefighters say their retirement age puts them at risk of injury and illness. They're asking to lower that date, a move that former Gov. Jerry Brown warns would add risk to pension plans.

A bill that would usher in a major change in pension law could cost local governments billions. Yet it is sailing through the Legislature without any opposition.

The stock market selloff that followed President Trump’s latest tariff announcement underscored the “unprecedented” risk that California pension funds see in a potential trade war.

Gerry Serrano had an outsize presence in Orange County politics as a police union leader. He lost a court battle over how much of his pay should count toward his CalPERS pension.

California is expected to spend about $8.7 billion on state worker pensions next year. Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to offset some of that cost by repurposing a previously scheduled debt payment.

Some California retirees are losing income as their pension funds make adjustments to comply with a 2013 law that attempted to curtail "spiking."

With temperatures soaring and air conditioners working overtime, Californians’ electricity bills are peaking as well. Will a contentious new rate proposal help families, especially those living paycheck to paycheck? That’s the big question explored by Wendy Fry of CalMatters’ California Divide team. Last year, the Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom passed an energy bill requiring […]

Climate activists and some lawmakers want two of California’s pension funds to shed about $15 billion of fossil fuel holdings. They say the move would reduce oil and gas companies’ political power, but opponents say it would be a bad move financially.

As of Friday, Anthony Rendon will no longer be the speaker of the California Assembly — the culmination of a messy and protracted handover of power to Democratic Assemblymember Robert Rivas from Salinas.  On his way out, the Lakewood Democrat has been conducting a very public HR exit interview of sorts — reflecting openly on […]