Contra Costa Taxpayers Association

Author of “Plunder” Speaks February 26

Kris Hunt — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:06:57 +0000

Steven Greenhut, author of the new book Plunder! (subtitle: “how public employees are raiding treasuries controlling our lives and bankrupting the nation”) will be speaking at the February 26th meeting of CoCoTax. While the title is controversial, and the financial implications for all levels of government are daunting, it is the people we have elected – not the unions – who are ultimately responsible for the mess we find ourselves in.

RSVP NOW
MONTHLY MEETING $20

Mr. Greenhut has been following this issue for years while on the Editorial Board of the Orange County Register. His columns have also appeared in newspapers throughout the country.

Mr. Greenhut has just become the head of the Pacific Research Institute’s new journalism center in Sacramento.

Plunder! will be available for purchase at the meeting.

The Breakfast Meeting of the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association, will be held Friday, January 29, 2010, at 7:45 a.m., Social 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Meeting cost is $20.00 includes breakfast buffet

LOCATION: HYATT SUMMERFIELD SUITES 2622 Contra Costa Blvd, Pleasant Hill. Located just off 680 with plenty of parking.

Payment for all reservations made is essential. Reservations can be made by phone, e-mail or at www.cocotax.org. If you have questions, please call me at 925-228-5610 or e-mail me at krishunt@cocotax.org. Prepayment is greatly appreciated. Checks should be mailed to: P.O. Box 27, Martinez, CA 94553, payment can be made on line through Paypal on the CoCoTax website.

SAVE THE DATE: CoCoTax Breakfast Meeting, Jan 29

Kris Hunt — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:05:58 +0000

The Breakfast Meeting of the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association, will be held Friday, January 29, 2010, at 7:45 a.m., Social 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Meeting
$20.00 includes breakfast buffet

RSVP NOW
MONTHLY MEETING $20

NOTE NEW LOCATION
HYATT SUMMERFIELD SUITES 2622 Contra Costa Blvd, Pleasant Hill. Located just off 680 with plenty of parking.

CHECK BACK FOR SPEAKER

RSVP
Due to our new location, payment for all reservations made is essential. Reservations can be made by phone, e- mail or at www.cocotax.org. If you have questions, please call me at 925-228-5610 or e-mail me at krishunt@cocotax.org. Prepayment is greatly appreciated. Checks should be mailed to: P.O. Box 27, Martinez, CA 94553, payment can be made on line through Paypal on the CoCoTax website.

Joe Canciamilla speaks to Breakfast Meeting, Oct 30

Kris Hunt — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:13:07 +0000

Former Assemblyman Joe Canciamilla will be the guest speaker October 30, as the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association gathers for Breakfast Meeting at its new location!

FRIDAY, October 30, 2009 7:45 A.M. – SOCIAL
8:00 A.M. – 9:30 A.M. MEETING

The state of California is imploding financially. Due to term limits, we lost one of the “adults” who could work with both sides of the aisle AND who understands finance. We are fortunate in having the Hon. Joe Canciamilla as our guest speaker to talk about the state of the state and possible solutions.

IMPORTANT — NEW LOCATION — CLICK FOR MAP
HYATT SUMMERFIELD SUITES 2622 Contra Costa Blvd, Pleasant Hill. Located just off 680 with plenty of parking.

COST:
$20.00 Includes full breakfast buffet.

SPECIAL THANKS TO PGE FOR SPONSORING THIS MEETING

RSVP:
Due to our new location, payment for all reservations made is essential. Reservations can be made by phone, e- mail or at www.cocotax.org. If you have questions, please call me at 925-228-5610 or e-mail me at krishunt@cocotax.org. Prepayment is greatly appreciated. Checks should be mailed to: P.O. Box 27, Martinez, CA 94553, payment can be made on line through Paypal on the CoCoTax website.

John Graham of PRI to address breakfast meeting, September 25

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:17:06 +0000

Join the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association for breakfast on September 25 as it hosts, John R. Graham Director, Health Care Studies, Pacific Research Institute, San Francisco, CA. The festivities begin at 7:45 and takes place at The Greenery, 5151 Marchbanks, Walnut Creek. Admission is $20.

REGISTER NOW ONLINE

The guest speaker will address: “The Thousand-Page Prescription: Is a Federal Take-Over the Cure for America’s Health Crisis?”

Mr. Graham is a noted analyst and author in the field of health care. His work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal and elsewhere. He has read the 1000 pages of the Health care proposal and has analyzed it from the perspective of one who has specialized in this field. Come learn the good, the bad and ugly of the proposed health care changes and the other ways we could deal with this critical issue from a free market perspective.

$100,000 Pension Club in the news

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:57:50 +0000

The $100,000 Pension Club is making news. The $100,000 Club is the brainchild of the California Foundation for Fiscal Responsibility. Over 5,000 members who receive pension of $100,000 or more from government entities that use the CalPERS pension system can be found at www.CaliforniaPensions.com.

For the curious, Concord has 15 members headed by their former City Manager, Ed James, at $167,180 per year. Walnut Creek has 10 members, with former police chief Tom Soberanes at $179,399 leading the pack. Richmond has 49 members headed by Charles Bennett, the former police chief, at $172,200.

The idea behind revealing those making over $100,000 is not to “out” anyone, but to call to the attention of taxpayers that some members of government (particularly safety) are receiving some very generous pensions. Of real concern are those granted pensions that actually exceed the amount they earned before they retired.

The blame (and solutions) to the pension problems are in the hands of elected officials. No one should blame the pensioners who are legally entitled to the amounts granted. Governments cannot continue to have people retire as early as age 50 and receive generous retirement benefits. This does not include all employees, but the drain on the system is becoming enormous.