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CAPITOL
Senate Democrats calling for cuts to state work force
The Associated Press

   New York’s Democratic minority in the Senate says eliminating thousands of state jobs and other “no harm” measures will save the state $2 billion, cutting a projected deficit in half.
   The Democrats in the Republican-led Senate on Tuesday called for saving $600 million by not filling “nonessential” jobs, taking $525 million in unused funds from public authorities that run utilities and transportation systems, and withdrawing $375 million from the state’s “rainy day” reserve. Other measures including forcing more collections from Medicaid fraud and avoiding late and more costly care for diabetes, heart disease and obesity would save another $380 million, according to the Democrats.
   “Right now we have a serious, immediate challenge that must be met,” said Senate Democratic leader Malcolm Smith of Queens. “That means we must agree to do no harm — to protect our investment in education, health care and transportation.”
   The Spitzer administration that is working on its proposed budget for the 2008-09 fiscal year projects about a $4 billion deficit for the fiscal year beginning April 1. The current state budget totals about $80 billion in state operating funds alone, or about $123.6 billion when all funds including federal money and capital borrowing are included.
   “The state Senate Democratic Conference proposal to eliminate about 6,000 state jobs by attrition is an example of shortsighted political grandstanding,” said Danny Donohue, president of the Civil Service Employees Association union. “It is an insult to state employees who have been left short-handed for years and it is an insult to New Yorkers who deserve better services for their tax dollars.”  

  
  
  

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withdrawing $375 million from the state’s “rainy day” reserve.

The Rainy Day reserve, huh?  Well, then, why is it that we, the residents of New York seem to be keeping up our act of Noah?  Will the rain end after 40 days?  Weeks?  Months?  Years?

I respect them from trying to keep taxes down (I know, NY, keeping taxes down, oxymoron), but if that's all you're doing, a one time shot, what happens the same time next year?

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Danny Donohue, president of the Civil Service Employees Association union. “It is an insult to state employees who have been left short-handed for years and...
it is an insult to New Yorkers who deserve better services for their tax dollars.”  

I don't agree with the first half of this, but I couldn't be more in favor and agreement of the second part of this sentance.

Why should it be any different in the public sector jobs as it is in the private sector? I'm sure the people laid off from GM or IBM or any other union or non union company felt they deserved better too. The difference here is that we as the taxpayers are paying the price.

JoAnn I agree and I also feel that there are surplus employees in the public sector that aren't needed. The trend in the private sector is to do more work with fewer people so why should the public sector be any different?

I have a friend who works for the state and is at retirement age. He said, 'why should I retire, when I have all the time off that I want and I don't have to break a sweat at the job'. He's in accounting. Nice, huh? And again, when a state has more public sector jobs than private...there's clearly a problem. A HIGH TAX problem. Not to mention the people on public assistance!

Check the state coffers and the fingerprints in/on it......it certainly cant be the workers without help......where is the hemmorhage???

MR.SPITZER
MR.CUOMO
MR.BRUNO
MR.SILVER
MR.TEDISCO

AND THE REST OF YA.......

http://www.dailygazette.com

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Analysis: State
work force largest since Gov. Cuomo
    ALBANY — A new analysis says the state work force has grown under Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer to the highest level since the administration of fellow Democrat Mario Cuomo.
    The Empire Center for New York State Policy, a conservative think tank, also said the average cost of salary and benefits for a state worker is $82,677.
    Spitzer spokesman Jeffrey Gordon said spending on salaries is actually increased only by the level of contract raises and bouses, or about 4 percent. He also said some executive chamber jobs that were assessed to agencies have been returned to the chamber’s payroll. Other hires include tax auditors, whose salaries are less than the back taxes they bring in, and increases in parole, corrections and other areas to offset overtime paid last year.
    The City University of New York also increased staffing, but Spitzer doesn’t control that, Gordon said.

Well, I must say that this has probably been raising constantly under ANY of the previous governors, Republicans or Democrats alike.

That is half of the problem in NYS. The public sector work force has surpassed the private sector work force! That is the big 'tip off' to anyone who wants to move here.  THEY DON'T!!

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The Empire Center for New York State Policy, a conservative think tank, also said the average cost of salary and benefits for a state worker is $82,677.

What the #@%#%@%@^??????

I used to have pick up something at the state labor dept on the campus every week. the room was like a warehouse with desk after desk....and....there was a tv on most desks with a radio > > > > >

we just keep asking and saying "The government needs to do something about this or that." that is how the monster grows......It's like the old saying if you put garlic up in your house a vampire cant touch you,,,,until the vampire is invited in.......I hear the sucking can you.....