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Debate over Public Pensions Research by Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research

A Dec. 13 SIEPR report ... titled 'Pension Math: How California's Retirement Spending is Squeezing the State Budget,' examined the state of three of California's public employee pension systems: [CalPERS]), [CalSTRS] and the University of California Retirement Plan .... The study concluded that debt on public pensions was larger than the state is currently reporting .... In a joint email to The Daily, SIEPR Director John Shoven and Deputy Director Greg Rosston reaffirmed that SIEPR's research is not influenced by its corporate support[.]

CalPERS Disputes Doomsday Scenario

Excerpt: Reacting to a Stanford University study that found the state's public retirement plans face a shortfall of a half trillion dollars, California Public Employees Retirement System spokesman Brad Pacheco said Tuesday the study was based on outdated data. Pacheco said the policy brief by the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research also relies on methodologies out of sync with government accounting rules and actuarial standards of practice.

Constitutional Law Scholars Discuss Religious Rights, the First Amendment and Obamacare

"Professor Michael W. McConnell is the Richard and Frances Mallery Professor and director of the Constitutional Law Center at Stanford Law School, as well as a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution.... David H. Gans is the Director of the Human Rights, Civil Rights, and Citizenship Program at the Constitutional Accountability Center. He is the co-author of an amicus brief filed in the Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. case.... Their discussion covers topics such as the Founding Fathers' intentions about corporate rights, religion, and the First Amendment; the ability of corporations to exercise certain types of religious rights; and rights of corporations to refuse to pay for health insurance programs they find morally objectionable." [Article includes link to podcast.]