SACRAMENTO, California - A conservative group says it is suspending its campaign to put public employee pension reform on the November ballot.
Dan Pellissier, president of California Pension Reform, said Wednesday the group could not raise enough money to mount a petition-signature drive. A successful drive typically requires at least $2 million. He blamed unfavorable language issued by the office of Attorney General Kamala Harris, a Democrat.
Pellissier said the "false and misleading title and summary" made it nearly impossible to gain voter support, even though pension reform is popular with Californians.
The group submitted two measures that qualified for signature gathering. One would have put new public employees into defined contribution plans, while the other would have put new workers into a hybrid plan that blends pensions with a 401(k)-style system.
