CRTA Area V Members,

Please note the article below, CRTA is stated as an opposition group
along with other teacher organizations, highlighted in red.  David
Walrath is quoted as our lobbyist.  YEAH, we have identity!  We are
continuing to build strength by planning for CRTA standing representation
with the CalSTRS Board, as requested by Pat Guyer, our CalSTRS liaison.

Write a short note to your state legislator(s) stating your opposition to
David Cranes appointment to the CalSTRS Board.  We want to maintain the
current retirement system of defined benefits for future teachers.  A
healthy retirement system is beneficial to all.  Find your state
legislator at http://www.crtav.org/crtavllink.htm.

Keep smiling, your retired!
Irene Wetzel, CRTA Area V Legislation Chair, www.crtav.org
1682 El Cerrito Court, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805)543-2145   iawetzel@juno.com

----------------------------copied--------------------

Ed Ely writes:
Also, CRTA is opposing the confirmation of David Crane to the Teachers'
Retirement Board. We worked with Gilbert Chan, the Sacramento Bee
reporter and the only one in the state who covers CalSTRS as part of a
beat, regarding that issue. While Crane's hearing has been postponed,
Gilbert went ahead and wrote up the issue in last Saturday's Bee. I've
included that story below the message points; we will issue a press
release on our opposition this Friday.

Critics oppose pension trustee


Teacher groups seek to block approval of governor's nominee on CalSTRS
board.

By Gilbert Chan -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Saturday, April 29, 2006
Teachers and labor groups are stepping up pressure on lawmakers to oust
one of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's top advisers from the state teachers'
retirement board.

David Crane, one of the governor's appointees to the influential
California State Teachers' Retirement System, has come under fire for
backing proposals to overhaul traditional public pensions and his views
on tackling the fund's $20.3 billion long-term shortfall.

In rare moves, several major education associations and teachers unions
are urging the Senate Rules Committee to reject Crane's appointment to
the 12-member CalSTRS board. Opponents include the California Teachers
Association, California Federation of Teachers, Faculty Association of
California Community Colleges, California Retired Teachers Association
and Service Employees International Union.

"Mr. Crane is more interested in tearing down the system than making it
work," said David Walrath, a lobbyist for the California Retired Teachers
Association. He lacks "understanding of how public pensions work."

Crane and two other Schwarzenegger appointees - Elizabeth Rogers and
Kathleen Brugger - have already begun serving on the CalSTRS board, but
can continue to do so only if they are confirmed by a Senate panel, which
will vote on May 10. Crane, the governor's special adviser for jobs and
economic growth and a member of the administration's inner circle,
expects to face the toughest test.

Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Margita Thompson on Friday reaffirmed the
governor's support for Crane. "He has the financial background and
expertise to get the highest returns on investments (for CalSTRS)," she
said.

Crane was unavailable for comment Friday.

A self-made millionaire and a San Francisco Democrat, Crane was a partner
at Babcock & Brown, an international financial services firm. During his
25 years at the company, Babcock grew from four to 400 employees and
arranged more than $250 billion in financing.

A staunch advocate of a free-market economy, Crane has known
Schwarzenegger for two decades and was a part of the governor's
transition team in 2003.

Last year, Crane embraced Schwarzenegger's proposal to replace guaranteed
public pensions with 401(k)-style private accounts. In December, he
refused to join fellow CalSTRS trustees in opposing pension overhaul
legislation by Assemblyman Keith Richman, R-Northridge.

The differences over the pension issue prompted Schwarzenegger more than
a year ago to oust four of his five CalSTRS appointees after they took a
stand against his pension revamp proposal. As a political payback, Senate
Democrats later rejected the governor's other pension board appointee
after an outcry from teachers groups.

Rushing to fill the vacancies, Schwarzenegger last July tapped Crane for
the CalSTRS board, which oversees the nation's second largest public
pension fund, with its $142 billion in assets and 776,000 members. Soon
his outspoken style and strong opinions about investments found him
clashing occasionally with CalSTRS officials and fellow trustees.

"I truly don't believe he is interested in maintaining the best benefit
programs for the retirees," said Arlene Pavey, president of the retiree
branch of the California Teachers Association.

Pavey and others bristled after Crane questioned the objectivity of a
staff analysis of Richman's pension legislation last December.

"I believe CalSTRS management has an interest in seeing us oppose any
plan that reduces defined-benefit contributions to us. I want to see an
independent report," he said.

Crane has questioned aspects of CalSTRS' long-held investment strategy
and the wisdom of requiring future teachers to help bridge a long-term
funding gap.




Ed Ely, Principal
E/B/E & Associates, PR
P.O. Box 2640
Fair Oaks, CA   95628
(916) 966-5933
(916) 966-5944 (fax)
ebepr@pacbell.netv

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