Here's why public pension recipients generate such anger

It's people like Bruce Malkenhorst, the infamous retired city administrator of Vernon who pulls down $520,000 a year in benefits through Calpers. How? He managed to hold six jobs at the same time: city manager, city clerk, finance director, treasurer, redevelopment agency secretary and director of light and power. Malkenhorst is not typical, of course - average annual pensions are in the 20K-30K range - but neither is he an exception. The California Foundation for Fiscal Responsibility found that nearly 15,000 of the state's retired government employees were receiving pensions of more than $100,000 a year in 2009. Malkenhorst topped the list, even though he has been awaiting trial on charges of using city funds to pay for golf games and massages. From the Washington Post:

"Since we're charging him simply with improper credit card bills," said prosecutor Max Huntsman, "he'll still get his extraordinary pension when we're done." Through his attorney, Malkenhorst declined to comment. Fred MacFarlane, a spokesman for the city of Vernon, said it has since changed its compensation system so that no similar situation can happen in the future. Although officials may hold more than one position with the city, "they are not paid for more than one position," he said.