In an open letter to Gregoire earlier today, I asked her to partially veto the bill repealing I-960, leaving in place the policy allowing the voters an advisory vote on tax increases and 2 pages in this November's voters pamphlet listing legislators' tax votes, their contact information, and the tax hikes' costs (these transparency policies from I-960 are eliminated by Senate Bill 6130).
I asked her for this small mercy even as she takes away what voters worked so hard to pass (3 times).
It reminds me of a scene from Troy, one of my favorite movies. After Achilles (played by Brad Pitt) kills Hector in a duel and drags his body back to his camp, Hector's father Priias, the King of Troy, sneaks into Achilles' tent and confronts him:
Priias: "You have taken everything from me, my eldest son, heir to my throne, defender of my kingdom. I cannot change what happened, it is the will of the gods, but give me this small mercy, I loved my boy from the moment he opened his eyes to the moment you closed them. Let me wash his body, let me say the prayers, let me place two coins on his eyes for the Boat Man."
Achilles responds: "If I let you walk out of here, if I let you take him, it doesn't change anything: you're still my enemy in the morning."
Priias answers: "You're still my enemy tonight ... but even enemies can show respect."
For the past six years, Gregoire and the voters have battled over taxes. And in this particular battle, Gregoire will succeed at getting rid of 90% of I-960 -- she will take away the 2/3's vote requirement for tax increases, the jewel of I-960's crown.
But if she has any honor, any honor at all, she will grant the voters this small mercy, proving that "even enemies can show respect."
I ask you this..
Is the issue oldd folks with bedsores?
Or Excessive TOTAL COMPENSATION?
Here is what the Union Democrats are protecting--
http://www.biaw.com/WAStateEmployeeWages.aspx
Take look at the TOTAL COMPENSATION of State Employees at the above site. Wages are only a part of the total compensation package. This site shows the true picture.
It adds 30% for Benefits (which comes straight from the State Human Resources website). It also puts a value on the 44 days off State Employees can get (Vacation, Sick Leave, Personal Days, Holidays). Do you realize they only work 82% of the weekdays. Unbelievable!
We owe it to nearly 30 years of Democrat Rule in the Governor's mansion. She gets millions in campaign contributions and countless ground troops...then negotiates with the Unions who got her elected.
This is the result.
Find the Retail Liquor Clerk who's Total Annualized Comensation is over $100k!!!
Let's focus on the real issue.
Cut all State Salaries by 10%, reduce benefits and paid time-off by 20%. Then start laying management off!
What a
Tim Eyman lecturing about "honor" that surprises me.
Posted by: LaborGoon on February 24, 2010 01:30 PM3 strikes like that and you'll lose your kleptocrat compensation package!
Posted by: gulliver on February 24, 2010 02:20 PMTake a look for yourself-
http://www.biaw.com/WAStateEmployeeWages.aspx
Pay Increase in the 4 years 2005-2009 (wages only) = 31.65%
There is the bottom-line.
A combination of wages and growing government.
Now follow the math if we merely cut salaries 10% and reduce Benefits?paid Time-off by 20%
Wages $6.5 BILLION X 10% ==$650 Million
Benefits $1.8 BILLION X 20%==$360 MILLION
PTO $1.4 BILLION X 20%===280 MILLION
Reducing Salaries by 10% and Benefits/PTO by 20%===$1,290,000,000
There is almost 1/2 of the deficit
Now lets get into Cushy Contracts with outside consultants and contract employees etc.
There we'll find another $100 MILLION or so of excess.
Now let's start cutting staff at the University of Washington and other colleges that claim they are in poverty.
Check out the TOTAL BUDGET for the Dept of Ecology.
Posted by: Mr. Cynical on February 24, 2010 03:04 PMI'd give him even more prop's if he would have whipped it out and doused that smug grin of that enthusiastic, tax raising liar.
Posted by: Boxxerace@hotmail.com on February 24, 2010 04:45 PMThanks for all the info.
Just to contrast all the public sector jobs you posted links to with my "private sector" job: I've been at the same company for 25 years, I get paid 60K per year salary, and about 5 paid holidays, with 5 weeks vacation. I work an average of 50 hours per week, and have had no pay raise for the last two years, due to the economic slowdown. There is a chance some of us may get a 1.5% raise this year. My medical insurance has doulbled in the last two years, and our company has laid off hundreds of employees in the last year and a half, again due to the economic slowdown.
Hmmm...interesting.
Posted by: ektenos on February 24, 2010 05:04 PM