1) How is it legal to pass a budget that includes $1.7B in concessions that have not been approved?
2) With overtime and benefits including those golden pensions that kick in after 20 years and pay forever and ever the CT union worksers are hardly making poverty level wages.
3) Was nobody else shocked when Danny Boy talked about $1.7B in concessions and the unions did not even peep?
4) Is it too soon to impeach him for gross negligence
What I really want to know is what our dear governor’s real intentions and political motivations are. Does he think that he can accomplish what no state in the union can-balance their budget? He built this budget based on the assumption that the unions would accept whatever was thrown at them. Rather presumptuous and tyrannical. There was a revolution a few years back to overthrow this type of leadership. The general populace has no idea what the implications are of Plan B. Union officials are naive, selling a bill of goods to their membership. Lay people off, let this trickle into the private sector and pay a lot of unemployment benefits. Does he have rocks in his head? Wake up! This is all smoke and mirrors with the governor and the unions and the big shot insurance execs at the “Gentlemen’s” club in Hartford. One further query-are the governor and the legislators willing to accept the conditions of the “Value Options” plan? I bet!
Nine months in my first ever public sector job in CT – I expect to be targeted for layoff. Back to the private sector for me if it happens. I’ve filed for unemployment compensation three times during the last two recessions. Now do I sound like the typical public sector worker that deserves such unsympathetic comments? Try looking at it from my side of the fence.
Let the Governor tax the rich at the rates they paid in the 1950’s when our country grew fast. Laying people off in the midst of a financial crisis just adds to the crisis. Layoffs just add to the unemployed and to the businesses that will go under when workers can no longer afford to spend money they don’t have. Wall Street and the rich who caused this crisis should pay to fix it, not those who had nothing to do with the crash.
With unfunded pensions and retirements here in Connecticut at $63.5 billion that means each taxpayer owes about $49,000 to fund these unfunded liabilities. Also, Connecticut in a recent survey of corporate CEO’s was listed 44th in terms of the states most friendly to business. This places us near California which is last. The net impact of this is that the unions would have us tax already overtaxed businesses to keep the privileged state workers in a position that is better than most of the people paying the freight. We cannot continue to tax our businesses away unless we want to “Bridgeport” the entire state. We already lost a portion of Pfizer. Pratt & Whitney has been gradually trying to transfer its operations south. As a reporter in Norwich noted, the issue in Connecticut is not that we have a do nothing legislature, we have a do everything legislature who cannot say no to any spending bills. The number one friendly state to do business in is Texas. Notice that Texas public servants are not as powerful as they are here. An article in Forbes magazine put it best about unions. The article, entitled a 12 Step Program for America, says “Ban public employee unions. They have driven our states and municipalities to the edge of bankruptcy and have damaged public school performance and student prospects in a time of heated global competition for smart industries and educated workers.” All they need do at Forbes is look to Connecticut to see the reality of the problem.
At a New Haven town hall meeting, Gov. Malloy said the states budget deficit was $3.3 billion. Since 2001 the “wars” in Afghanistan and Iraq have cost U.S. taxpayers $1.18 TRILLION. Connecticut taxpayers alone have paid over $28.8 BILLION. What the wars take from CT this year alone, $4.2 BILLION, would easily cover the state and cities/towns deficits. (www.nationalpriorities.org/en/resources)
Over 61% of Americans want an end to these wars now, especially after the death of Bin Laden. (www.usatoday.com)
There’s no excuse for blaming unions, public or other workers for budget deficits. “It’s the wars, stupid.” It’s the tax giveaways to the ultra rich and fat corporations. BOA pays not a penny in state taxes yet 500 of their employees/dependents are on the states Husky Health Plan. GE paid no taxes either after earning BILLIONs in profits. Gas is over $4.25 a gallon and the government gives them $BILLIONS in tax subsidies. This is just the tip of the iceberg folks and the biggest Ponzi schemes ever perpetrated on the American people.
Wakeup! Demand we start funding Human Needs, Not Wars and Funneling more Money to the Wealthiest in our Society. Call The White House @ 202-456-1111; your federal reps @202-224-3121; and state reps NOW.
I don’t agree with the mass lay-offs because the governor is not considering the hurt that will be felt by the people of CT when DMV offices are closed, agencies we depend on disappear or the 100 year old vo-tech school system becomes extinct. HELLO GOVERNOR- NOTHING positive can come from this not for the people or the businesses of our state. In the long run we all stand to lose by these lay-offs.
While laying off workers whose unions will not make concessions will help balance the budget, Malloy has not done nearly enough to cut spending. Instead of raising taxes across the board, and ABSURDLY raising the spending budget for next year, Malloy should cut numerous social services and state offices. I am leaving the state by the end of this year to escape Connecticut’s increasing tax burden and I have many other friends/family who will be leaving within the next 2 years as well.
Regarding givebacks,if Malloy is true to his words we all must sacrifice,then ALL State employees(include legislators,governor and political appointees,dept heads) should be sacrificing. Also to raise taxes and increase budget with this economy is ludicrous!!
Governor Malloy force fed this upcoming budget on the General Assembly who in turn voted for it. The individual members of the General Assembly who voted for it are the culprits for mindlessly following along. This method of government operations has gone on for many years and that is why we are in this dilemma now. It is time to stop the hemorrhage. CUT THE SPENDING, TAXES, AND PERSONNEL.
I voted for Malloy, but now I deeply regret it. Yes, the state certainly needs to save money, but this governor has gone about it in the most ruthless, brutal way possible. It appears that people (in the form of families of state employees) are expendable to him, as is quality education.
The man’s superego and lust for power has certainly gone to his head, and it’s most disturbing to observe this revelation so early in his term. I think Connecticut may well be in for the bumpiest ride in state history.
Layoffs are a reality whether we like them or not. Seeking $2 billion for 43,000 people is impossible without them.
State employees have been made the enemy here for some reason. But how many of the citizens of Connecticut would be willing to give over $20,000 each year to help balance the budget? Especially when the average salary is @$50,000?
Further, the average state employee has no more information about the negotiations taking place then the public does. We are unaware of what concessions have been asked for, other than what is reported in the news.
He’s nothing more than a bully.Why doesn’t he tell the public that the union workers have ALREADY given back a lot.Jodi Rell did similar strongarm tactics 3 yrs ago.And the unions folded,giving back 7 unpaid days off ,doubled co-pays on insurance and no raises.Enough is enough.State workers are tax payers too,and for Danny to balance his budget on their backs is unfair.Hope the unions stand their ground.Layoff all the commissioners and appointees
These are people just like you and me, they are also tax payers and CT residents, many with families. I don’t see how adding to unemployment and taking state troopers off the highways, cutting probation officers and putting more people on unemployment is going to help our state economy. It is not going to put more money in any of our pockets and I don’t believe that shared sacrifice means let us all suffer, we should be looking for real solutions, not ways of bringing others down.
Brainwashed in ct. Do you people have a clue what your talking about. The average state employee salary is right at the poverty level to begin with. How much blood do they want out of us. These politicians are responsible for their wasteful spending. It doesn’t take much to brainwash you people.
THE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO BE LAYED-OFF, WON’T BE. Top management won’t let go of the people who they brought in. TRUST ME ON THAT. Top management in community colleges have deans that should go- they have salaries around $120-180grand/yr. You dont need 5 or so deans in each school…absurb. The Chancelor who is retiring wont give pink slips to his hand pick employees, and he retiring this year at 200grand+. You don’t need 13 college presidents 200-250yr, But trust me they wont go. Nor will all the trips for educational seminars these people take.
Malloy may need to budget our finances but he still will protecting the wealthy and not the working man, who trusted and voted for him.
I hope the man suffers a major organ failure so he can appreciate the agony and stress he putting on the “middle and lower class state employees” the ones who will loss their jobs, benefits, pay higher taxes as everyone else.
I don’t agree with Malloy, it’s his spending that puts us all into debt. Look at what he did to Stamford, he spent money we didn’t have and raised the taxes to get it back. Malloy is dangerous, I don’t think he was the right choice for Gov. Why didn’t he say how many of the state unions already made sacrifices????? Perhaps he should be looking in his own office for sacrifices.
Not knowing what the Governor was asking for makes it hard to give an opinion. But in a job market where unemployment is high I would think a union (being a brotherhood) would have liked to keep their people employed knowing there is strength in numbers and I know some of the folks layed off will feel betrayed by their union officials. I’m waiting to see if the same amount of work gets done with a lesser amount of members working.
The thing to note here is the Governor’s need to meet contractual requirements and give 7+ weeks notice of layoffs. That says to me that the unions aren’t being real in their negotiations and are stalling for time, an option taxpayers do not get.
Selfish Unions deserve this smack in the face. We’re all in this together, we all (especially private citizens – not public employees) have to bear the brunt of this debacle. Damn the Union leadership for not even conceding to avoid layoffs. And you wonder why Unions are so HATED by the rest of the workforce (you know, 6 out of every 7 workers).
1) How is it legal to pass a budget that includes $1.7B in concessions that have not been approved?
2) With overtime and benefits including those golden pensions that kick in after 20 years and pay forever and ever the CT union worksers are hardly making poverty level wages.
3) Was nobody else shocked when Danny Boy talked about $1.7B in concessions and the unions did not even peep?
4) Is it too soon to impeach him for gross negligence
5) Can Gov Christie be our Governor, too!
What I really want to know is what our dear governor’s real intentions and political motivations are. Does he think that he can accomplish what no state in the union can-balance their budget? He built this budget based on the assumption that the unions would accept whatever was thrown at them. Rather presumptuous and tyrannical. There was a revolution a few years back to overthrow this type of leadership. The general populace has no idea what the implications are of Plan B. Union officials are naive, selling a bill of goods to their membership. Lay people off, let this trickle into the private sector and pay a lot of unemployment benefits. Does he have rocks in his head? Wake up! This is all smoke and mirrors with the governor and the unions and the big shot insurance execs at the “Gentlemen’s” club in Hartford. One further query-are the governor and the legislators willing to accept the conditions of the “Value Options” plan? I bet!
Nine months in my first ever public sector job in CT – I expect to be targeted for layoff. Back to the private sector for me if it happens. I’ve filed for unemployment compensation three times during the last two recessions. Now do I sound like the typical public sector worker that deserves such unsympathetic comments? Try looking at it from my side of the fence.
Let the Governor tax the rich at the rates they paid in the 1950’s when our country grew fast. Laying people off in the midst of a financial crisis just adds to the crisis. Layoffs just add to the unemployed and to the businesses that will go under when workers can no longer afford to spend money they don’t have. Wall Street and the rich who caused this crisis should pay to fix it, not those who had nothing to do with the crash.
With unfunded pensions and retirements here in Connecticut at $63.5 billion that means each taxpayer owes about $49,000 to fund these unfunded liabilities. Also, Connecticut in a recent survey of corporate CEO’s was listed 44th in terms of the states most friendly to business. This places us near California which is last. The net impact of this is that the unions would have us tax already overtaxed businesses to keep the privileged state workers in a position that is better than most of the people paying the freight. We cannot continue to tax our businesses away unless we want to “Bridgeport” the entire state. We already lost a portion of Pfizer. Pratt & Whitney has been gradually trying to transfer its operations south. As a reporter in Norwich noted, the issue in Connecticut is not that we have a do nothing legislature, we have a do everything legislature who cannot say no to any spending bills. The number one friendly state to do business in is Texas. Notice that Texas public servants are not as powerful as they are here. An article in Forbes magazine put it best about unions. The article, entitled a 12 Step Program for America, says “Ban public employee unions. They have driven our states and municipalities to the edge of bankruptcy and have damaged public school performance and student prospects in a time of heated global competition for smart industries and educated workers.” All they need do at Forbes is look to Connecticut to see the reality of the problem.
At a New Haven town hall meeting, Gov. Malloy said the states budget deficit was $3.3 billion. Since 2001 the “wars” in Afghanistan and Iraq have cost U.S. taxpayers $1.18 TRILLION. Connecticut taxpayers alone have paid over $28.8 BILLION. What the wars take from CT this year alone, $4.2 BILLION, would easily cover the state and cities/towns deficits. (www.nationalpriorities.org/en/resources)
Over 61% of Americans want an end to these wars now, especially after the death of Bin Laden. (www.usatoday.com)
There’s no excuse for blaming unions, public or other workers for budget deficits. “It’s the wars, stupid.” It’s the tax giveaways to the ultra rich and fat corporations. BOA pays not a penny in state taxes yet 500 of their employees/dependents are on the states Husky Health Plan. GE paid no taxes either after earning BILLIONs in profits. Gas is over $4.25 a gallon and the government gives them $BILLIONS in tax subsidies. This is just the tip of the iceberg folks and the biggest Ponzi schemes ever perpetrated on the American people.
Wakeup! Demand we start funding Human Needs, Not Wars and Funneling more Money to the Wealthiest in our Society. Call The White House @ 202-456-1111; your federal reps @202-224-3121; and state reps NOW.
I don’t agree with the mass lay-offs because the governor is not considering the hurt that will be felt by the people of CT when DMV offices are closed, agencies we depend on disappear or the 100 year old vo-tech school system becomes extinct. HELLO GOVERNOR- NOTHING positive can come from this not for the people or the businesses of our state. In the long run we all stand to lose by these lay-offs.
While laying off workers whose unions will not make concessions will help balance the budget, Malloy has not done nearly enough to cut spending. Instead of raising taxes across the board, and ABSURDLY raising the spending budget for next year, Malloy should cut numerous social services and state offices. I am leaving the state by the end of this year to escape Connecticut’s increasing tax burden and I have many other friends/family who will be leaving within the next 2 years as well.
Regarding givebacks,if Malloy is true to his words we all must sacrifice,then ALL State employees(include legislators,governor and political appointees,dept heads) should be sacrificing. Also to raise taxes and increase budget with this economy is ludicrous!!
Governor Malloy force fed this upcoming budget on the General Assembly who in turn voted for it. The individual members of the General Assembly who voted for it are the culprits for mindlessly following along. This method of government operations has gone on for many years and that is why we are in this dilemma now. It is time to stop the hemorrhage. CUT THE SPENDING, TAXES, AND PERSONNEL.
I voted for Malloy, but now I deeply regret it. Yes, the state certainly needs to save money, but this governor has gone about it in the most ruthless, brutal way possible. It appears that people (in the form of families of state employees) are expendable to him, as is quality education.
The man’s superego and lust for power has certainly gone to his head, and it’s most disturbing to observe this revelation so early in his term. I think Connecticut may well be in for the bumpiest ride in state history.
Layoffs are a reality whether we like them or not. Seeking $2 billion for 43,000 people is impossible without them.
State employees have been made the enemy here for some reason. But how many of the citizens of Connecticut would be willing to give over $20,000 each year to help balance the budget? Especially when the average salary is @$50,000?
Further, the average state employee has no more information about the negotiations taking place then the public does. We are unaware of what concessions have been asked for, other than what is reported in the news.
He’s nothing more than a bully.Why doesn’t he tell the public that the union workers have ALREADY given back a lot.Jodi Rell did similar strongarm tactics 3 yrs ago.And the unions folded,giving back 7 unpaid days off ,doubled co-pays on insurance and no raises.Enough is enough.State workers are tax payers too,and for Danny to balance his budget on their backs is unfair.Hope the unions stand their ground.Layoff all the commissioners and appointees
These are people just like you and me, they are also tax payers and CT residents, many with families. I don’t see how adding to unemployment and taking state troopers off the highways, cutting probation officers and putting more people on unemployment is going to help our state economy. It is not going to put more money in any of our pockets and I don’t believe that shared sacrifice means let us all suffer, we should be looking for real solutions, not ways of bringing others down.
Brainwashed in ct. Do you people have a clue what your talking about. The average state employee salary is right at the poverty level to begin with. How much blood do they want out of us. These politicians are responsible for their wasteful spending. It doesn’t take much to brainwash you people.
THE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO BE LAYED-OFF, WON’T BE. Top management won’t let go of the people who they brought in. TRUST ME ON THAT. Top management in community colleges have deans that should go- they have salaries around $120-180grand/yr. You dont need 5 or so deans in each school…absurb. The Chancelor who is retiring wont give pink slips to his hand pick employees, and he retiring this year at 200grand+. You don’t need 13 college presidents 200-250yr, But trust me they wont go. Nor will all the trips for educational seminars these people take.
Malloy may need to budget our finances but he still will protecting the wealthy and not the working man, who trusted and voted for him.
I hope the man suffers a major organ failure so he can appreciate the agony and stress he putting on the “middle and lower class state employees” the ones who will loss their jobs, benefits, pay higher taxes as everyone else.
I don’t agree with ANYTHING Malloy does.
I don’t agree with Malloy, it’s his spending that puts us all into debt. Look at what he did to Stamford, he spent money we didn’t have and raised the taxes to get it back. Malloy is dangerous, I don’t think he was the right choice for Gov. Why didn’t he say how many of the state unions already made sacrifices????? Perhaps he should be looking in his own office for sacrifices.
Not knowing what the Governor was asking for makes it hard to give an opinion. But in a job market where unemployment is high I would think a union (being a brotherhood) would have liked to keep their people employed knowing there is strength in numbers and I know some of the folks layed off will feel betrayed by their union officials. I’m waiting to see if the same amount of work gets done with a lesser amount of members working.
The thing to note here is the Governor’s need to meet contractual requirements and give 7+ weeks notice of layoffs. That says to me that the unions aren’t being real in their negotiations and are stalling for time, an option taxpayers do not get.
Selfish Unions deserve this smack in the face. We’re all in this together, we all (especially private citizens – not public employees) have to bear the brunt of this debacle. Damn the Union leadership for not even conceding to avoid layoffs. And you wonder why Unions are so HATED by the rest of the workforce (you know, 6 out of every 7 workers).