A bill proposed by local Assemblyman Curt Hagman (R-Chino Hills), which would have ended part-time elected officials’ eligibility in public pension programs, failed to pass by a 2-4 vote.

Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security (PERSS) have been debated as a way to save the government millions by excluding all part-time politicians. Many elected officials have already been excluded, including state legislators, from CalPERS.

In the hearing, Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski stated he felt legislators should be eligible for CalPERS, later mentioning pensions did not amount to enough money to be a real problem.

In a statement from Hagman’s office, it said that pensions are a problem, however, and AB 738 would have saved millions of dollars by excluding all part-time politicians—also known as those most guilty of pension abuses. The Committee acknowledged abusers need to be addressed, but did not agree that officials should be eliminated from public systems.

The bill will still be sent to the Pension Reform Conference Committee for further review.

“Pension reform is crucial to California,” said Assemblyman Hagman, “Whether my Democrat colleagues join me or not, I will continue to fight for Californians that should not be called upon to cover politician pensions.”

For more information on Assemblyman Hagman see: www.assembly.ca.gov/hagman