San Jose, CA – With the continuing decline in the stock market, private pension plans in the United States are now short $300 billion of the amount needed to pay future promised benefits. In addition, state and local government pension plans have also lost almost $300 billion over the last two years, leaving them with a $180 billion shortfall. These deficits, along with decline in workers’ 401(k) retirement accounts and company cutbacks in retirement health insurance, mean even more insecurity for present and future retirees. To make things worse, Bush and some state governments want to replace current pension plans and social security with private investment accounts.