Jerry Brown's Crucial Union Friends

[Omaha Steve]

X post in Labor

http://www.governing.com/topics/elections/jerry-browns-crucial-union-friends.html

BY MCCLATCHY NEWS | OCTOBER 29, 2014

By Chris Megerian

The proposal to restrict school districts' financial reserves seemed to come out of nowhere, slipped into the state budget just days before the spending plan would come up for a vote.

At a legislative hearing, Democrats were confused and Republicans were critical. Recession-weary education officials launched an unsuccessful counterattack against the measure, pushed by California's largest teachers union and inserted by Gov. Jerry Brown.

The June episode was a reminder that unions have often found a loyal friend in Brown, who has been allied with the labor movement since his political career began more than four decades ago.

The governor has occasionally frustrated union leaders with budget cuts and intransigence at the negotiating table. But he has also delivered on many of their biggest priorities, prompting his Republican opponent, Neel Kashkari, to paint him as a tool of labor benefactors.

FULL story at link.