Poll: Californians Would Reject Two Pension Measures

Two proposals that would reduce retirement benefits for teachers, firefighters, school employees and public workers failed to garner the support of the majority of voters, according to a poll released today by Capital & Main, an online news outlet.

The poll, conducted by San Francisco-based pollster David Binder Research, surveyed the title and summary of two measures being advanced by former San Diego Mayor Chuck Reed and former San Diego City Council member Carl DeMaio.

Neither of the two proposals won the support of the majority of voters.

Only 44 percent support the measure that would force public workers into 401k plans ” with 42 percent opposed.

Only 41 percent back a proposal that would cap pension fits “ with 43 percent opposed.

Opposition to both measures was strongest among Democratic voters, Bay area and Inland Empire residents, voters who vote in every election, and women.

Former Mayor Chuck Reed told the Sacramento Bee last week that he believed 60 percent support in a poll would be required for him to move forward with the measure. Neither measure came close to majority support, failing to meet Reed’s own test.

“It is clear that these measures are dead in the water,” said Dave Low, Chairman of Californians for Retirement Security. “These results show little support even before we would unleash an unprecedented campaign against their passage. Voters have no interest in eliminating retirement security for millions of their neighbors."

The poll was conducted December 10-13, 2015 among 500 respondents. The margin of error was 4.4 percent. No other questions were asked in the poll, and no descriptions of the proposals other than the title and summary were asked.

Link to the Capital & Main story here: http://capitalandmain.com/latest-news/issues/labor-and-economy/breaking-news-poll-shows-pension-ballot-measures-already-in-trouble-1216.