NM gov. orders furloughs to deal with budget

Great! The Governor wants to solve the budget crunch by putting working folks temporarily out of work. I suppose it's no problem for government employees to miss a week's salary, huh?

Maybe they should all decide to take their week off at the same time? No, I guess that would be a strike, and that is illegal under state law.

State employees aren't allowed to decide they all won't come to work at the same time, but the state can decide to send them home at the state's convenience. All the power is with the government and the government is a very bad employer.

Last Chance wrote:

Great! The Governor wants to solve the budget crunch by putting working folks temporarily out of work. I suppose it's no problem for government employees to miss a week's salary, huh?
Maybe they should all decide to take their week off at the same time? No, I guess that would be a strike, and that is illegal under state law.
State employees aren't allowed to decide they all won't come to work at the same time, but the state can decide to send them home at the state's convenience. All the power is with the government and the government is a very bad employer.

I agree the situation is not ideal but would you rather these folks be furloughed for 5 days throughout the remainder of the fiscal year or that some people lose their jobs altogether to help the budget deficit?? If this were me, while it would create a small financial burden missing 5 days of pay I would rather still have a job and receive a paycheck then be unemployed with very few options of finding another job anytime soon.

The real issue is that the government (federal, state and local) need to learn to budget within their means. If you project your going to have $10 million in revenue, be conservative and only budget for $8.5 million. Sort of like most of us try to run our households.

angieleaforme wrote:

<quoted text>
I agree the situation is not ideal but would you rather these folks be furloughed for 5 days throughout the remainder of the fiscal year or that some people lose their jobs altogether to help the budget deficit?? If this were me, while it would create a small financial burden missing 5 days of pay I would rather still have a job and receive a paycheck then be unemployed with very few options of finding another job anytime soon.
The real issue is that the government (federal, state and local) need to learn to budget within their means. If you project your going to have $10 million in revenue, be conservative and only budget for $8.5 million. Sort of like most of us try to run our households.

What I would suggest is the Governor and the legislature face the inevitable - they are going to have to raise taxes. If spreading the pain across all state employees is acceptable, and losing a week's pay when your health benefits have been cut is a lot of pain, then a minor raise in taxes that spreads the pain to everyone should be even more acceptable. Better yet, limit the tax increase to the wealthy, who are best able to cope with the increase.

I agree that public officials need to budget better. Instead they are taking the easy way out for now, balancing the budget on the backs of working folks. In stinks, but as long as we allow it, politicians will do it rather that make the hard choices they elected to make.

It is all the worse because we don't allow public employees to strike. If we take away their most important bargaining chip, we have all the more responsibility to deal fairly with them. Instead we cut their benefits and ask them to take a week off without pay. We don't, it appears, even offer to let them spread the cut over multiple pay checks.

We dodged a bullet when voters decided that Richardson is not Presidential material. And thanks to scandal, he missed a place in the Obama Administration for now. Let's hope the Governorship is Richardson's last public position.

Well, looks like Gov. Richardson is now attempting to close the barn door after horse has bolted. Can't any body in government see these things coming? Its the same with the IRS...they claim that every year 20% of the people filing for the Earned Income Credit are defrauding the USA out of over 17 billion dollars. Shut the damn door before this money goes out...duh! Best solution: NM State should keep all the state income tax refunds; they already have the money in pocket and most of us don't miss it anymore. Secondly the IRS should stop giving the EIC; we didn't ask for it, it doesn't really go towards helping the children, and it create a riot effect during the tax season. Can't anybody see that times are changing; act now before it is too late. Everyone has to tighten their belts including the government. Gov. Richardson could use a little belt tighten himself. Maybe stop eating sooo much in fancy restaurants at NM citizens expense.
That's my two cents worth...that's all I have left at the end of the week!

It's not just Gov. Richardson (Democrats or Republicans)...they are all crooks! Most people in politics would not even make good dog catchers. Why do you think most run for office because they know that's were the easy money is at. They all scam the citizens and then scam some more when they call on more taxes or scarificing jobs or employment furloughs. And most employees in government office are productive only about 60% of the time.
The solution is probably to raise taxes but along with that government should become for efficient, trustworthy, reliable along good faith commitment but it's not going to happen so get ready for worsening conditions. It's happening all over the world!

Last Chance wrote:

<quoted text>
What I would suggest is the Governor and the legislature face the inevitable - they are going to have to raise taxes. If spreading the pain across all state employees is acceptable, and losing a week's pay when your health benefits have been cut is a lot of pain, then a minor raise in taxes that spreads the pain to everyone should be even more acceptable. Better yet, limit the tax increase to the wealthy, who are best able to cope with the increase.
I agree that public officials need to budget better. Instead they are taking the easy way out for now, balancing the budget on the backs of working folks. In stinks, but as long as we allow it, politicians will do it rather that make the hard choices they elected to make.
It is all the worse because we don't allow public employees to strike. If we take away their most important bargaining chip, we have all the more responsibility to deal fairly with them. Instead we cut their benefits and ask them to take a week off without pay. We don't, it appears, even offer to let them spread the cut over multiple pay checks.
We dodged a bullet when voters decided that Richardson is not Presidential material. And thanks to scandal, he missed a place in the Obama Administration for now. Let's hope the Governorship is Richardson's last public position.

Richardson has ruined the state.

Martinez for Gov wrote:

Richardson has ruined the state.

you hadn't heard about the world economy...

Remember deregulation of wall street? Bush? Republican congress?

buellher?

Richardson needs to be furloughed. His administration is responsible for the shortfall in the state. Not Bush. Not Obama. Richardson has spent like a drunken sailor since 2002 and needs to be reined in. Good hard working people will be chosen for furlough not political cronies.

Last Chance wrote:

<quoted text>
What I would suggest is the Governor and the legislature face the inevitable - they are going to have to raise taxes. If spreading the pain across all state employees is acceptable, and losing a week's pay when your health benefits have been cut is a lot of pain, then a minor raise in taxes that spreads the pain to everyone should be even more acceptable. Better yet, limit the tax increase to the wealthy, who are best able to cope with the increase.
I agree that public officials need to budget better. Instead they are taking the easy way out for now, balancing the budget on the backs of working folks. In stinks, but as long as we allow it, politicians will do it rather that make the hard choices they elected to make.
It is all the worse because we don't allow public employees to strike. If we take away their most important bargaining chip, we have all the more responsibility to deal fairly with them. Instead we cut their benefits and ask them to take a week off without pay. We don't, it appears, even offer to let them spread the cut over multiple pay checks.
We dodged a bullet when voters decided that Richardson is not Presidential material. And thanks to scandal, he missed a place in the Obama Administration for now. Let's hope the Governorship is Richardson's last public position.

I work in the private sector and my income is down at least 25% from the previous year. When times improve, so will my income. I hate to see anyone lose income or benefits, but public employees shouldn't expect to be shielded from this reality. Their 5-day furlough represents a 2% reduction in annual pay - and they get some time off in exchange. From where I'm standing, it looks like a pretty good deal.

Its about time!!

These left-wing dirt-bags in the Ca and Hawaii legislature tried to pull the wool over everyone's eyes by saying that if they had to do this, why then there would be no police to fight crime, or fireman to battle the fires! Typical left-wing crap!!

No, these left-wing dirt-bag legislators couldn't give-up any of their 20-50 staff who bring them dinner, shine their shoes and more..........No, its the fireman, police and teachers!!

Just more left-wing scare tactics and BS, which do not work anyomore.

Hell, we could loose 25%-30% of these so-called government workers and absoutley nothing would change. We proved that in Ca and Hawaii with the furloughs here!! Now its your turn NM. Go get em!!

Guess wrote:

<quoted text>
you hadn't heard about the world economy...
Remember deregulation of wall street? Bush? Republican congress?
buellher?

You need to do your research about Barney Frank, Chris Dodd and Janet Reno. There's enough blame to go around. Stop unbridled spending!

Guess wrote:

<quoted text>
you hadn't heard about the world economy...
Remember deregulation of wall street? Bush? Republican congress?
buellher?

Selective hearing, Guess? Now Bush is to blame for the world economy also? Where were you when Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were raping the loan morgtage industry, Acorn was raping the Housing industry, and Clinton was looking the other way so Wall Street(Enron, yup, on his watch) could drive the false market through the roof and rape investors. And I bet you have selective sight also! Even you can find the truth if you google it. Bush objected every step of the way, and as usual, a democrat led congress pushed us over the edge when they took control. The only reason they did get control of Congress is because democrats have never had the stomach for any war. I suppose you believe that the Korean, Vietnam, Gulf war, WWI, and every other war but the civil war were not pre-emptive strikes like the evil Bush war. How funny. They all were. In some ways so was WWII, unless you think attacking Germany for Japan attacking Pearl Harbor was acceptable. Oh Yea, we stopped a mad man from taking over Europe! Kinda like Sadaam Hussein.
If all you got is that, and Bush bailout of 70 billion, then the 800 billion bailout of this puppet socialist regime should get your dander. Of course you are too busy swearing loyalties and thanking your boy for making nice with the dictator's of the world. Why don't you compare the Bush economy in his first six years to this one or Clinton's for that matter. You might be surprised. The only thing that changed in the Bush economy his last two years was a democrat congress. If you could read or hear you could see why things went south. Keep on the way you are and we will be where you want us. Not without a fight.

Among You Soon wrote:

.!

put

Among-you-soon is a fudgepacker.

So to fix the crisis we furlough workers. How about trimming welfare handouts first? Why punish the working stiff as usual? Why not have Maria do something besides stuffing her fat mouth with Doritos and pushing out Children?

The priorities in this state are way off and it isnt right.

As a state employee, I can tell you that it is extremely disappointing to see mismanagement first hand. When I say mismanagement, I do not mean the worker bees in the state offices assisting the public. Did you know that the state is still hiring employees during this furlough? So, state employees employed right now get to go on a furlough yet we are hiring new employees??? What hiring freeze?!? Have we thought about closing state museums or state libraries? Expensive buildings that cost a chunk of money to maintain. I think museums are a luxory at this point. Have we thought about bringing the food tax back so that we all pay our fair share in taxes? Or, at least tax food that is not considered a healthy staple? We all eat, so all income groups should pay their share. Have we thought about closing more businesses down completely who do not pay taxes? Did you all know that Garduno's restaurant owes the state $1 million and that is just one business who is a dead beat? How about we throw people in jail who do not pay their personal income tax? How about no welfare benefits for those who drop out of high school.....no high diploma should = no free handouts! How about Uncle Bill go on furlough?

Fer Low wrote:

Richardson needs to be furloughed. His administration is responsible for the shortfall in the state. Not Bush. Not Obama. Richardson has spent like a drunken sailor since 2002 and needs to be reined in. Good hard working people will be chosen for furlough not political cronies.

Richardson managed to furlough himself, with pay, while he took two years off to run for president. I guess the term "administrative leave" would be more accurate in that case...