(August 13. 2003) -- LBReport.com posts with permission a link to an opinion piece by Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Weintraub entitled, "Cozy State Pension Deal Costs Taxpayers Billions."

For LB area readers' background, the 1999 legislation to which the piece refers received "yes" votes on final passage from LB area Assemblyman Alan Lowenthal and LB area state Senator Betty Karnette.

As Mr. Weintraub notes, there was no dissent in the Senate on final passage (39-0)...but we note that there was dissent in the Assembly vote on final passage (77-7). Among those voting "no" was then-Assemblyman, now state Senator Tom McClintock (R, Thousand Oaks), currently a candidate for Governor in the Oct. 7 recall election.

Mr. Weintraub's Sacramento Bee piece can be viewed at: "Cozy State Pension Deal Costs Taxpayers Billions".