Uncertain Times Call for Constant Vigilance
After the special election in 2005 and the budget debacle of 2009, it has become painfully clear that police and fire, along with teachers and nurses, are in a fight for their lives, not just in being paid a living wage, but in keeping their hard-earned pensions. Recently, desperate politicians, refusing to take responsibility for their own mismanagement and poor planning, have tried to make California’s pension obligations the cause of the state’s looming insolvency.
With so much at stake, public-service-oriented PACs are increasingly turning to Freeman Public Affairs to rebuild public support, fight deep staffing and pay cuts and protect pension funds.
Freeman Public Affairs will represent your committee year-round, through good times and bad, making the long-term investment in protecting your interests, your jobs and your right to be treated fairly.
- Mount a cohesive, sustained, direct appeal to the public through an education campaign to build awareness, support and, ultimately, outrage over any plans to balance the budget on the backs of retirees and their families.
- Inform the public about what is actually going on with pension funds -- specifically that pension funding is not what is bankrupting the state and that CalPERS has been an investment goldmine for many years for many communities, and now, regardless of state mismanagement, it must be the promised lifeline for retirees and their families.
- Counter lies with facts and expose previous overspending and poor management of city, county and state officials, especially cases where specified pension-fund contributions have not been made and used instead to fund pet projects.
- Make it clear that public workers understand that tough economic times mean shared sacrifice and that most of them are already facing furloughs, layoffs, pay cuts and fewer benefits but that the current pension plan is a matter of public trust with employees contributing a substantial percentage of their pay for years to care for themselves and their families after decades of service.
- Offer budget compromises that are already being made like furloughs, etc., as well as future pension/benefit considerations for new recruits, which may be negotiable.
- Examine, amend and recommend ballot initiatives that benefit your organization.
- Create ballot measures to generate alternative revenue streams to maintain and increase staffing and compensation.
- Identify supportive local and state candidates.
- Represent your organization in Sacramento and in local forums.
- Build bridges to receptive community leaders and organizations and elicit their support.
- Resolve labor disputes by reminding elected officials of their obligation to their constituency, especially those who serve in critical roles like police, fire and teachers.
- Provide crisis management by being responsive and sensitive to public concerns, while making sure you get to tell your story.
- Enhance your organization’s image through community outreach, newsletters, profiles in courage and human-interest stories.
- Add a politically savvy voice to your candidate-endorsement interviews.
- Provide background checks for candidates seeking your endorsement.
- Ensure responsible, cost-effective, results-oriented PAC money spending.
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