State-Journal.com - Projects live, people hurt

With a little bit of sugar to help the medicine go down, the General Assembly eventually passed a budget that put projects over people.

A last-minute deal allowed legislators to assign millions of dollars in coal severance taxes and tobacco settlement money for public works back home. And lawmakers also will consider an additional $150 million for water and sewer work elsewhere around the state. Supplemental appropriations could come in the final two days of the session.

But state workers and teachers are scheduled to get only 1 percent pay increases each of the next two years, and one budgetary assumption is that many of them won't be replaced after taking an enhanced-retirement package expiring at the end of the year.

The pill went down easily enough in the Senate's 35-3 vote for approval Wednesday night. The House gulped a little harder before making its own 74-21 decision.

Senate President David Williams, in a pitch likely to resonate with many who elected him, said legislators could not keep teachers and public employees on an "island" isolated from hard times. Besides, he pointed out, the state's plan to absorb increases in health-insurance costs will help to offset the meager pay raises. He suggested many in the private sector would jump at such an offer. That may be, but it sounds more like an argument for universal health care than for curtailing government pay adjustments.

Both capital-area representatives, Derrick Graham of Frankfort and Carl Rollins of Midway, voted against the budget bill. "This whole thing is dysfunctional," Graham declared. He also attacked the negotiation process that started out in the open before conference committee members closed the doors to work out their final deals. "It's got to be a more open process," in his view.

Sen. Julian Carroll, D-Frankfort, who earlier in the session supported revenue enhancement to meet the state's needs, went along with the majority in his chamber's final vote.

About the best that can be said is that the legislature isn't leaving town without adopting a budget, as in times past. Like some sports teams, lawmakers can claim a victory, of sorts, but it certainly wasn't pretty.

3.	Posted by train April 22, 2008
	sickofreadingcrapcomments, if you are so sick of reading crap comments stop making crap comments. Williams has lined his pockets really nice with a lot of the taxpayers money you so whine about. You behave like state workers have to be thankful to have a job to please you. You have no idea what you are talking about. But as more and more state workers leave because they can't afford to work for next to nothing, you, too, will see the impact in lack of services. Let them line up for unemployment. If there is nobody there to hand it out, they might finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. If you think state workers have it just dandy, then go find a state job! Meanwhile, shut your trap, because there is nothing but s@#t coming out of there!

2.	Posted by sickofreadingcrapcomments April 21, 2008
	What about this don't you get? they have insurance and a pay increase! Many don't. Why should people who are getting hurt themselves cough it up for this few to have more? Do you recognise that our local economy is almost recession-proof because of our large number of state employees making reliable good incomes. Yet they and the teachers are always whining. This isn't about Dave's income, this is about how much taxpayers should have to shell out. Or how much they can before you ruin them, then where will you be? Perhaps you would like a raise, that will then be taken back from you to pay for all the people on unemployment because you got more than your share. Like him or not-Dave is right as he often is.