To the Point
Public Unions and Democrats: A Rift between Friends?
Last week's failed recall of Wisconsin's Republican Governor Scott Walker was bad news for public employee unions in a crucial swing state. The news from blue-state California may be worse. In Republican stronghold San Diego, 67 percent of voters approved limitations on the pensions of public workers. No big surprise.
By Warren Olney • • 1 min readLast week's failed recall of Wisconsin's Republican Governor Scott Walker was bad news for public employee unions in a crucial swing state. The news from blue-state California may be worse. In Republican stronghold San Diego, 67 percent of voters approved limitations on the pensions of public workers. No big surprise. But Democrats who run the City of San Jose persuaded 70 percent of the voters to roll back retirement benefits for public workers. More and more Democrats agree that union benefits are so high they threaten major cuts in basic services, including public safety. If Democrats don't support unions, will union members support them? What are the consequences for this year's elections?
This story was informed in part from sources in the Public Insight Network, find out more: www.KCRW.com/insight
Warren Olney
former KCRW broadcaster
Frances Anderton
architecture critic and author
Lata Pandya
Assistant Producer, To the Point/Which Way, LA?
Christian Bordal
Managing Producer, Greater LA
Sam Liccardo
Mayor of San Jose
Barbara Maynard
Californians for Retirement Security
Harold Meyerson
Editor, The American Prospect; and Columnist