Employee Benefits

The United States is the "no-vacation nation," the only advanced economy in the world that doesn't guarantee its workers any paid vacation time, says a recent report by the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington. In fact, 28 million Americans are no-vacation workers, receiving no paid time off, vacation or holidays.

Orange County initiated a high-stakes, first-of-its-kind battle Tuesday to rein in costly public employee benefits as the county's Board of Supervisors voted to launch an effort to scale back the pensions of sheriff's deputies. The move comes as local governments throughout the state struggle to cover the ballooning cost of public pensions, which some project will force officials to slash government programs and services in coming decades.

Orange County took another step toward shoring up its frayed finances Tuesday as county supervisors approved new rates for retiree medical coverage that will pare down a $1.4-billion shortfall but nearly double monthly premiums for some former employees. Retirees decried the move as unfair, saying they spent decades as county workers with the promise of affordable medical coverage in retirement.

One of the great perks of being an elected official in the city of Los Angeles is the free use of a car. The cars are treated as a taxable benefit. The electeds get free gas, free maintenance and free carwashes, and they can use the car for personal business, as long as they drive it themselves and stay in the Los Angeles metro area. Most of the cars are recent models that sell for about $25,000 to $35,0000. And what happens if they get into an accident or need a repair?

A week after its controversial decision to extend healthcare benefits to thousands of part-time cafeteria workers, a split Los Angeles Board of Education on Tuesday approved more than $30 million in cost savings to afford the move. In voting 4 to 3 to approve the Los Angeles Unified School District's $6.2-billion budget for next year, the seven-member board adopted various proposals to fund benefits suggested by Supt. David L. Brewer.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is expanding the number of healthcare plans it offers employees and giving discounts on some types of coverage in an effort to blunt criticism about benefits. Workers also will be able to pay $4 for a month's supply of any of 2,400 generic prescription drugs, saving them $25 million next year, the company said. Labor and political leaders have criticized Wal-Mart's health plans for being too expensive and have supported legislation to mandate certain benefits.

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to expand the rights of church groups, turning down appeals in a pair of cases. In the first case, the justices declined to hear a free-speech claim from an evangelical minister in Northern California who wanted to hold worship services in a public library meeting room.

California Highway Patrol Officer Gary Hoag was investigating an accident on Interstate 5 near San Clemente when an approaching car spun out of control and pinned the veteran cop between the wrecked vehicles. His left leg was nearly severed, his spine was injured and his 29-year law enforcement career ended on Jan. 10, 2005. "Every step I take is extremely painful, which has greatly reduced the quality of the rest of my life," Hoag, 52, says.

SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday signed eight bills to help California veterans, military personnel and their families, including educational benefits and protections from predatory lenders. Legislative wrangling over the budget scuttled some of his big-ticket items, however, such as one measure that would have offered college tuition assistance to National Guard members.

The state auditor Tuesday criticized the 23-campus Cal State University system for the way it has raised pay and benefits for top executives, provided them moving expenses and given some post-retirement pay without requiring work.