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NFIB California Executive Director John Kabateck on California Considering a state-sponsored pension program for those who do not have pension benefit...
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Look out this President Bush could push California.
Right over the edge welcome everybody I'm Tom Sullivan in -- Neil Cavuto.
You would think his state is broke is California would close -- wallet but just like the federal government.
It -- spending money it doesn't have and they're now close to passing a state sponsored pension program.
For more than six million people in California who don't currently have a retirement benefit.
John Cabot deck of the National Federation of Independent Businesses says that this disasters state should take -- cue from business because when companies are broke.
First thing they do is to cut John what is California thinking about starting a new pension plan for people.
I don't know what Californians think in these days -- and by the way we may see here in Sacramento and I do hear your voice again candidacy.
I don't know what people are thinking here in Sacramento -- notably our elected officials.
We have people out of work we have small businesses shutting their doors people living in uncertainty and fear.
And our elected officials continue to think that they can use main street as any TM.
We have county city after city actually going bankrupt and the voters in other cities voting for pension reform.
And our state leaders are just not listening isn't the tragedy.
I -- -- I was reading an article by -- friend Dan Walters out there who is the dean of the of the Sacramento -- state capital of reporters.
He Brody says that this is going to be a battleground for a nationwide effort by unions.
And what they're trying to do we said is to reduce what some call pension -- So that the rest of -- stop calling for public pension reform.
If -- if they give us some money as well if you think that'll work.
We just you know I think we'll believe it -- we see it we've heard from our elected officials that they're gonna get -- real reform.
Kinda curious in the last few weeks of legislative session -- that we are seen them talk about serious reform.
And yet they still want to raise taxes that's why NFIB the small business -- we represent an -- small business owners are opposed to taxes.
And there -- -- reforms we're saying no reforms no taxes.
The idea and the economy in California is is noticeably still very very bad.
Every time my -- -- look around I see businesses that used to be thriving businesses and they're gone they're closed.
But they're talking about pension reform which is different than this other program which is again.
That the unions plan to roll this out -- -- will back off complaining about public employee pensions being too rich but.
But.
This is what -- just add another layer of cost they're gonna have to set up a new pension board.
To manage this for all these people the working California for an employer that doesn't have a a pension I gotta ask you.
Do they not know about an IRA.
Guy I mean people can go and start their own IRA.
Well.
I just think that's a classic example of elected officials not really having.
Business experience you know and the problem we have with that legislation.
Tom is really -- it is one of those classic examples.
Of of gotcha government in California really forcing small business owners.
To do something not thinking that employers and employees can craft a program that works best for them.
This is a a -- government way of doing things and it's gonna hurt small businesses instead of letting them design plans that work best between them and are just.
So you when you represent small business in California what can you do do you feel.
Holy powerless because the unions appear to control the legislature there.
Well that is interesting you mention that because that is one reason that the NFIB here in California not all Gloria are we opposing.
The tax increases this November but the voters have a choice they have a chance this November Tom we are actually we just announced recently our support of proposition 32.
Which would stop special interest from having the influence they do.
Notably public employee unions and big corporations for that matter giving small business owners and a level playing field.
As long as the public employee unions have that voice and that control and domination we're not gonna see any types of things like pension reform.
Give us an update on on what the polling shows in California because in November.
Their -- as Sacramento was asking people California to raise taxes -- sales tax on themselves by a quarter ver percent and also.
To boost taxes for those people to make 250 and above what's what's the latest point.
Well on I think -- Dan Walters has said it repeatedly in his Collins it's 5050 at best but I think what we're finding now as we're seeing cap cities like Stockton San Bernardino and other areas going bankrupt as -- seen people out of work as we're seeing people -- frustrated.
We're seeing more people and hearing from more people who are saying enough is enough well where is the time we need to -- -- We're all watching -- and overall wondering when people will save enough was enough for John -- -- thank you from the national.
Federation of independent businesses thank you very very much appreciate it.
Thanks for having me you.
