Small, privately-owned businesses have been hit extremely hard by the current economic situation as have their employees. They are earning less and spending less therefore generating less revenue to the state via taxes. Now state government is feeling the effects. Due to the legislature’s inability to pass a state budget, 100,000 unionized state workers have to take a 20% reduction in pay to help keep the state running until they do. Why isn’t the legislature and the governor’s office following the example of small business owners and taking the cut themselves first?
Many small business owners - who have not taken pay for extended periods of time to keep their businesses running and their employees in jobs - have had to turn to furloughs in order to stay operational. Who the hell is happy about furloughs? No one likes furloughs, no one. They suck. I know. I’ve taken three furloughs in the last ten years. As the economy continues to struggle, furloughs are among the few options that the private sector has to stave off layoffs. The private sector employees affected by these furloughs understand that their employer is struggling to keep the doors open and by taking the furlough, they are giving other co-workers an opportunity to stay employed. Furloughs are last ditch efforts that, if unsuccessful, will lead to layoffs. Two of my furloughs did.
The furloughs are Governor Pattison's last ditch effort to get the legislature to pass a budget. It's time to start sqawking at your state senator and representatives. Shame them for taking their full pay while their constiuents struggle with 20% less of theirs. Shame them for their lackadazzicle handling of the state budget. Remind them who THEY work for.
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