It was reported on Wednesday that U. S. Senator Dianne Feinstein called upon Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to be more strategic in his policy of furloughing State workers to help reduce State expenses. Feinstein reportedly found that our Gubernator is furloughing State employees that are paid with 100% Federal dollars, resulting in no savings to the beleaguered State budget.
One might wonder then if some of this Gubernator furlough action is more about public posturing than it is about substance. Is it simply good politic to furlough State employees when that does not save the State any money, or is there another agenda working? You can reach your own conclusion on that one – but clearly in those cases it is not about saving State budget dollars.
Similar actions are under way in other states. Just today I saw press accounts with headlines of “Maryland Plans Furloughs, Layoffs” and “Rhode Island to Shut Down for 12 Days”. In Maryland, employees will be forced to take “as many as 10 days of unpaid leave” while more than 200 will be laid off. Rhode Island’s shut down of 12 days will exempt “critical services such as 911 operations, state police patrols and prison guard rotations”. In announcing this plan, the Governor said it will be equal to a 4.6% cut in pay for those State workers affected. And, both Maryland and Rhode Island will also be cutting money flowing to cities and counties, thus shifting some of the budget pain to them.
Some of these cuts, furloughs and layoffs are probably money saving moves for the States. But when California furloughs employees that are paid from non-State funds while claiming the action is intended to save State money, something is amiss.
Looks like yet another “one size fits all” strategy from Sacramento rather than strategic thinking.
Just saw an article today from the Sacramento Bee reporting that there have been complaints about deteriorating service of the CHP 911 system, so the Governator has lifted the furlough requirement for CHP Dispatchers. Imagine that, a connection between critical services and the staffing levels to provide them! Is this Governor a quick study, or what?
Excellent post.
I had no idea we were being hosed like this by Arnold.
What a scam. Collect the $$ from Uncle Sam, and hoard it.
Thats criminal.
here we go again… Californians need to set priorities and expectations straight with the amount of tax money you want to give/spend. You can’t continue to jerk state emergency workers (people just like you) around and expect them to continue to be dedicated just because politicians and disaster victims “give thanks” in the media. Being called a hero doesn’t pay the mortgage or health care bills.