Voters warm to Jerry Brown's pension plan, poll finds

Here's another data point in the multidimensional chess game headed toward the ballot box next year: A majority of California voters like Gov. Jerry Brown's pension plan for state workers, according to a new poll.

In the Field Poll, 51% of respondents said the proposal to raise the retirement age for new workers and require many current ones to pay more for their pensions strikes the right balance. Twenty-four percent said they think it goes too far, and 14% said they think it doesn't go far enough.

A solid plurality of respondents -- 41% -- said they think public pensions are too generous, compared with 35% who said they think they're fine. The percentage who look unfavorably toward pensions has steadily risen.

Brown is trying to persuade the Legislature -- dominated by union-backed Democrats who don't like the idea of wide-ranging public pension changes -- to place his proposal on the November ballot.

The governor wants to assure voters that he is trying to clean up state government and make them more likely to favor the $7-billion tax initiative he unveiled this week.

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-- Nicholas Riccardi in Sacramento

Photo: Gov. Jerry Brown unveils his 12-point pension plan in Sacramento in October. Credit: Max Whittaker / Getty Images