Sacramento, CA - California State Assemblymember Dr. Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina) today issued the following statement after the Public Employee Post-Employment Benefits Commission issued recommendations to address post-employment benefit obligations facing state and local governments.

"I am extremely pleased to see that the Public Employee Post-Employment Benefits Commission has finished their extensive review of the pension and health benefits provided to California's public employees. The Commission was composed of an extremely diverse group of individuals and it is commendable that they were able to reach consensus when issuing their final report. I am looking forward to reviewing the recommendations in detail and helping to move through the legislative process those recommendations requiring statutory change."

"Quickly moving forward this year on implementing these recommendations will help to stabilize the costs of pensions and retiree health care for employers while making sure we keep the promises we have made to our teachers, police officers, firefighters and other hard working public employees."
The commission consists of twelve members, six appointed by the Governor, three appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly and three appointed by the Senate President pro Tem. Serving are: Gerald Parsky as chair and Matthew Barger, Paul Cappitelli, John Cogan, Connie Conway, Ronald Cottingham, Dr. Teresa Ghilarducci, Jim Hard, Leonard Lee Lipps, Dave Low, Curt Pringle and Robert Walton.
Assemblymember Hernandez is Chair of the Assembly Committee on Public Employees, Retirement, and Social Security and expects to hold a hearing in January to fully review the commission's recommendations.