A few weeks ago as part of their 2008-09 deficit mitigation proposal, legislative Republicans recommended eliminating the various deputy commissioners working in state agencies to save an estimated $2.1 million.
When Democratic lawmakers proposed their own deficit mitigation plan around 5:30 p.m. today, it adopted the GOP’s suggestion. Democrats made a point of noting they were trying to be bi-partisan and open to ideas besides those generated within their own ranks.
But around 9:30 p.m. Democratic spokesman Derek Slap by phone told reporters that Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell decided to take the cuts to the deputy commissioners off the table tonight.
This change of heart was never mentioned by Rell’s budget director, Robert Genuario, nor her spokesman when they visited with reporters just after 8 p.m. even though the topic was raised in front of them. Slap contends they knew but did not want to talk about it.
So that’s where things stand for now. Those individuals still have their jobs. Of course, the way things are going, they could be back on the line again tomorrow when the General Assembly debates and votes on some version of the deficit mitigation package.
Waiting for news of possible layoffs is horrible under normal circumstances when management keeps everything close to the vest until you either do or don’t get that pink slip. But how much more frustrating must it be to see your job security or lack thereof play out in public like this, with the status changing hourly and depending on the whim of a few lawmakers.
