Opinion

I, like many of you, read the headlines and follow the breaking news events that seem to be standard fare for our information rich society. And in doing so, I sometimes will find that my professional self gets wrapped into thoughts about how things can go so wrong; in particular how so many adults could have failed vulnerable children. I am, of course, referring to the events at Penn State.

The Plumas County Economic Recovery Committee (PCERC) wishes to voice its opposition to the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) submitted State Plan Amendment (SPA) 11-010, which seeks authorization to reduce MediCal reimbursement rates for certain facilities, including skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and sub-acute-care units that are distinct parts of hospitals, to 2008-09 rates less 10 percent. If approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the reduced rates will be effective retroactively to June 1, 2011.

Gov. Jerry Brown has delivered on his campaign promise to tackle pension reform. The plan he put forward is bold and comprehensive. It is also politically risky.

Public employee unions, longtime allies of the governor, will strongly oppose key portions of it, as will many of Brown’s fellow Democrats in the Legislature. Even Republicans may balk when it comes to rollbacks for police officers and firefighters, the most politically powerful public employees who enjoy the most robust pensions.

Gov. Jerry Brown has delivered on his campaign promise to tackle pension reform. The plan he put forward is bold and comprehensive. It is also politically risky.

Public employee unions, longtime allies of the governor, will strongly oppose key portions of it, as will many of Brown’s fellow Democrats in the Legislature. Even Republicans may balk when it comes to rollbacks for police officers and firefighters, the most politically powerful public employees who enjoy the most robust pensions.