The Connecticut Legislature early Friday morning approved a short window for Governor Malloy to cut spending including thousands of jobs after unionized state workers rejected a concession package worked out by the governor and labor leaders. Legislative approval allows an opportunity, as Malloy indicates in his statement below, for unions to ratify the rejected concession package and save government jobs. It also apparently prevents Malloy from cutting municipal aid with the budget year beginning today. Malloy’s statement:
“Our goal has been achieved: Connecticut has a budget in place that is balanced honestly, with no gimmicks. To be clear, that’s not a reason to celebrate. The $1.6 billion deficit we just closed involves a lot of pain for a lot of people in the form of thousands of layoffs and deep spending cuts. But putting Connecticut on firm fiscal footing–which is what we’ve done–sends an important, much-needed message to the business community and to Wall Street. Now people will know we’re serious about getting our fiscal house in order, and now we can re-focus our attention on job creation.
“While I think the House should’ve taken up the labor reforms I proposed, I’m glad we’ve at least started the conversation in a real way. We need to make the relationship between the state and our employee base sustainable, something it currently is not. Whether through collective bargaining or the legislative process, or by some other means, this issue of how we compensate our state employees isn’t going away.
“I’ve been asked many times over the past few days about rumors regarding SEBAC and what they might or might not do, so let me be clear. If they choose to ratify the agreement that was recently turned down, and if they do so in a timely fashion, much of the pain that’s been inflicted over the past few days can be reversed. If they end up not ratifying the agreement, then the budget we now have in place is the one we’ll live with for the next two years.
“This has been a productive six months, a time period during which we have brought more change to Hartford than has been seen around here in a long, long time. Change doesn’t come often, or easily–but I’m determined to continue changing the way state government does its business so that we can create jobs and jumpstart this economy.”
Love him or hate him, you have to respect him. It takes a lot of balls to engineer this multifaceted compact. We all realize there will be lots of suffering to correct our current budget crisis. Dannel is taking this head on. This governor must be one hell of a poker player. Finch should follow his example on our budget.
Classic example of why Unions stink.
Main Entry: 1ya·hoo
Pronunciation: \ˈyā-(ˌ)hü, ˈyä-\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural yahoos
Date: 1726
1 capitalized : a member of a race of brutes in Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels who have the form and all the vices of humans
2 [influenced by 2yahoo] : a boorish, crass, or stupid person
— ya·hoo·ism \-ˌi-zəm\ noun
I think this says it all.
yahooy, have a nice, safe weekend.
You may have noticed the referred-to Brutes were not mentioned to be participants in a union.
yahooy,
1726 was well before the coming of the enlightenment of Labor. I sincerely hope you have a very enjoyable weekend. Happy 4th!
l to see Testo exiled to Devon, you are not an informed person.
You chastised me with a comment that unions did not exist in the early 18th century. Au Contraire my intellectually challenged philistine. The very genesis of global labor organization has its roots in the systems of Guilds and Apprenticeships. Nonetheless the Brutes of the day were thugs. None were invited into the coveted guilds.
yahooy,
I must admit I enjoy debating intelligent people. Point by point. I don’t understand your reference to Testo in Devon. Next I did not chastise you on your comment. Our histories are very different. I have read extensively on the history of labor. Guilds were set up like modern Mafia labor jobs. You paid your “Boss” for the right to a day’s pay. The “coveted” guilds were always run by thugs, it worked easier. Lastly, regarding being intellectually challenged I believe you lost here.
Malloy is a lousy poker player. You do not go all in when the opposition has been raising all along and you only got 7-2 off suit. The union has a royal flush because the public will blame Malloy for the cut in services. Business will leave the State and taxes are up.
State service levels are truly amazing!
Imagine having a neighboring commercial property owner who lost his sole tenant several months ago. The property faces a State numbered road. The property owner has not cut the grass all spring and on June 30 it stands about 36 inches tall. This is in full contrast to the lawn in front of my office (between the sidewalk and the roadway) that has been mowed six times so far this year.
So it is July 1 and I have to wait to exit my driveway because there is a State Highway Department dump truck with a CAUTION sign on its tailgate. It occupies one lane and is waiting for two different mowers to cut the grass on the property next door.
I asked the truck driver why State employees are working on private property and he told me someone complained about the unsightliness of the grass and they responded by coming out to cut it. The State is responsible, I was told, for the area 10 feet in from the curb.
Wonder if they will send a bill for the mowing service including the 10 minutes rental of truck and two mowing machines plus manpower? All you have to do I was told is to call the Trumbull garage and complain. I guess I can call off my lawn service, let the grass grow to hay length and then call the State (if they are still open two months from now).
B2:
You are talking about the DOT who will have their agency sliced, unless there is a re-vote. I am amazed at how a legitimate union vote can have a re-do if the outcome is unfavorable to your liking. If the unions can have a re-vote maybe the State can have a re-election.
charlie,
Or maybe we can have a re-opener for all current agreements? Not that I can support that legally or morally, necessarily, but something along those lines will be required at all levels of government because of the way unsustainable commitments have been formed historically. What were those around the table thinking? (Pretty much about themselves, it turns out, because it has never been about HOW ARE THESE OBLIGATIONS EVER GOING TO BE FUNDED, DELIVERED, MET.)
So if we start to see re-dos of votes, of rules, then it certainly opens up the possibilities of really meaningful re-dos, doesn’t it?
Let’s focus on Bridgeport financial decision making where an elected City Council member can be a union employee of the City, as well as a member of the party town committee. All permissible at this time by State law, tradition, and local legal opinion, although our City Charter denies that right, but was trumped by State Law 20 years ago. Of course that was before Bridgeport eliminated its elected “financial oversight” group leaving the “check and balance” function solely to the overwhelmed Budget and Appropriations Committee of the City Council.
Let’s see, if enough Council members came to the understanding the budget is not balanced as required by the City Charter, would they get a re-do? Would the questions they ask get more serious about protecting taxpayer funds against waste? About funding the best education for City youths consistent with City financial health and an effectively planned BOE budget rather than an extended jobs program for some of the connected? Maybe citywide considerations might appeal to more than two members? Maybe one or more of those who have multiple conflicts, preventing them from effective representation, will awaken to the serious questions being asked about City services, decision making, finances, education, safety, and “honest answers?” I mean, what was a City tractor doing in Long Island Sound/Ash Creek waters on the ‘second day,’ Adam Wood? Was the driver so intent on watching horseshoe crabs propagate that it got stuck in the sand and required City backup to become unstuck? Laughable, not really. Merely attempting to draw further lines in the “wet sand” about truth, and a whole bunch of other issues that are far easier to “talk up” but harder to “walk” unless you are serious.
Good thing you don’t have hedges next door to your property. You should use a hedge strategy of letting your lawn go long. Another good hedge is not to sell MJF short.
I can see Hubler is probably doing a “D & B” on this post. Have a safe fourth so that you may live to have a fifth.
Where is Anna? I “Really” miss her. Have a great weekend everybody. Be safe and be sane.
I wonder if yahooy and Anna are sharing a hotdog this weekend.
I’m particular with whom I share my hot dog.
Besides, I think Anna is a member of a union. AFP.
American Federation of Philistines.
Let us not forget Malloy did NOT cut the budget. He actually increased state spending and he wants to do it on the backs of the workers or taxpayers, whoever caves first. I guess state workers did not think Malloy’s spending was important enough to pay for. If you do, vote for him again.
Malloy has balls and brains. I admire anyone who will dive headfirst into a battle. He knew what he was getting into before being elected Governor. He knew the consequences before him. He attacked this like a Navy Seal. He knew hard choices needed to be made. He didn’t kick the can down the road, he addressed the problems. Finch should do the same thing.
Not only will I vote for Malloy, I will be proud to work on his next campaign.
So some of your heroes would be: Custer, Napoleon in Russia, German invasion of the Soviet Union, the Vietnam war?
BOE SPY,
Yes to all of the above mentioned. You neglected to mention the others. Eisenhower, Patton, Bradley, General Westmoreland, General Schwarzkopf, Colin Powell and our current leaders.
If someone threatened your family you would go into an attack and defend mode. Government is no different, we are the same family. So keep your head in the sand, but remember that leaves your ass exposed. Enjoy the weekend.
I did not know a state worker threatened your family. I just saw Malloy threatening the state workers’ families, having given the workers the choices of earning little or nothing. I like that Malloy forced McDonalds to give its workers sick days while he is taking sick days away from his. I guess what is good for the goose is not good for the state working gander. The leaders you named thought their plan through and won their battles. So far, Danno has lost his.
*** It’s not poker, it’s Politics 101 & Malloy is simply following through on what he said he might have to do once he became Gov. *** Everyone must pay, no? ***
Malloy is doing what has to be done. At least he is treating all the unions the same, even the ones who supported him. You have to respect him for that. Finch, on the other hand, threatened some unions with mass layoffs, forcing them into making significant concessions with NO JOB GUARANTEES. Then he turned around and struck a deal with AFSCME with much less significant concessions and a two-year no-layoff clause. And not one member of the City Council is asking why. Something is seriously wrong with this picture.
BOE SPY,
You are truly one stupid bastard. If you can’t understand a simple analogy, stay off the OIB site. Apparently you aren’t so smart that you don’t see the big picture. Malloy is playing hardball with the Big Boys. He has an agenda and plans to address it. He is now engaged in guerrilla warfare. The Governor has been in office for less than 6 months. Support him. P.S. If someone threatened my family, it would be resolved within 24 to 48 hours & they had better bring in a lot of mops.
Now I get it. Even though Danno is increasing state spending the state workers and the Republicans are responsible for the mess we are in. I was still back when Wall Street bankers and Republicans were being demonized. Before that, I think it was the bourgeoisie and before that the Jews. It seems like a cheap magician’s trick. In this hand I am spending more than ever before but don’t look over there. Look at these workers who will not give back their pay. If you agree with Danno sooo much, send 10% of your pay to him. Then pay all his new taxes. If you do not have the brains and the balls to put your money where your mouth is, stay off the OIB site. Now I have to go and warn state employees and taxpayers to get ready for a guerrilla attack. Even though I thought exotic pets are now illegal in CT.
BOE SPY,
I thought I was talking to someone with intellect, after your comments I can see I am dealing with a dope. I, like everyone else, am going to pay more taxes–reluctantly. Closing your eyes and hoping it will all go away is childish. Hard times = hard calls. So leave your head up your ass, you seem comfortable with the view.
OK Antitesto,
I guess my sarcasm was wasted on you. You seem to have the ability to ignore the fact Malloy is INCREASING state spending. We are all VERY concerned with the economy and the state’s financial health. As was said, if the state can live without 7500 employees so be it. I would bet the state could live without all the cronies Malloy hired to get his job but that did not happen. As far as Govbo taking on the big dogs? Danno seems to have gotten snubbed by the big dog that picks the trash off the side of the highway. You just keep thinking he is doing what needs to be done. I think he is doing things that can help as long as those things hurt someone who is not Dan Malloy: like legalizing pot for his pothead kid, cutting jobs while hiring cronies and cutting everyone’s pay but his. Regardless of which of us is right we are all stuck. People are going to get hurt. The question is who and how much. In any case, it appears it will not be Dan Malloy or his friends who get hurt. I am not one of his friends. 🙁
BOE SPY,
Perhaps I did miss your sarcasm. A guerrilla is a jungle fighter, on the other hand a gorilla is a jungle primate. Let us agree to stop this pissing contest.
Shall we both drop our daggers as well as the rhetoric? Many times on OIB I have stated I am pro-union. I truly feel for these affected employees & their families. By the way, I don’t blame the Republicans or the Democrats–I blame us. BPT native Walt Kelly said it best, “We have met the enemy and he is us” from his cartoon character Pogo. All the levels of government have become bloated, now we need to trim the fat. With regards to your statement about increasing state spending please back that one up. In closing, every change of any administration in the last 200 years brought in their own people. People they were familiar with and trust. Sincerely, enjoy July 4th.
A.T.
If Malloy lays off 7500 employees and the State runs without any problems, then we didn’t need 7500 employees anyway.
ANTITESTO
The following are your words:
“You paid your ‘Boss’ for the right to a day’s pay.”
Just what do you call MANDATORY UNION DUES?
yahooy,
It’s always a pleasure. I must admit I am stunned you can’t differentiate a difference between labor and management. The Unions’ job is to protect the interests of its paying members. Why don’t you feel scabs should pay for the benefits they share with their dues-paying brethren? Finally, where would the Unions’ members be right now if the unions weren’t protecting them? The Governor would roll over them like Gen. Sherman did at Atlanta.
Actually most dues-paying Bridgeport Union members are in South Carolina. Union costs and high taxes caused every single factory in Bridgeport to flee. Unions stink.
yahooy,
They left because of corporate greed. Labor costs were lower down south. Please enlighten me with your intelligence on this topic. Name one company that was in the RED before they abandoned Bpt.
AT,
Do you honestly think every single smokestack factory left Bridgeport while operating profitably? They left because unions drove labor costs to an untenable point. When combined with Connecticut’s business-unfriendly environment and Bridgeport’s complete collapse at the hands of the Democrats, no business owner would ever consider Bridgeport a viable business opportunity. Unions and the local DTC stink. Think deeper. Go beyond the luster of your sateen union jacket and ball cap.
This is a Republican-sponsored website but it gives info on the CT budget:
www .ctgop.org/2011/02/connecticuts-budget-breakdown/
• Governor Malloy’s budget proposal increases spending by 1.8% for 2011-2012 and 2.4% for 2012-2013 ($900 Million)
If you do not believe that here is an article from everyone’s favorite newspaper:
www .ctpost.com/default/article/Says-state-budget-only-reaches-farther-into-1427646.php
The truth is the new budget he’s so thrilled about increases overall spending by almost $1 billion dollars in the first year and even more in the second year.
You are right about bloated government and I am also pro-union but they are probably the only organizations more corrupt than government. I believe unions have lost their way. Workers, especially government workers, need protection or else everyone would be subject to being replaced every time the regime changes. Every campaign contributor would get his ne’er-do-well son-in-law a government job.
BOE SPY,
Thank you, I’ll read it tomorrow.
A.T.