Minnesota Senate OKs cutting 15 percent of state workforce

[marmar]

Minn. Senate OKs cutting 15 percent of state workforce
by Tim Pugmire, Minnesota Public Radio

March 30, 2011


St. Paul, Minn. — The Minnesota Senate Wednesday passed a government finance bill that dramatically cuts the state workforce, freezes salaries and slices the operating budgets of all state agencies.

Republicans say the changes are needed to make state government more efficient and help erase a projected $5 billion budget deficit. But Democrats argue the proposed cuts are too deep and rely too much on financial guesswork.

TIME TO TIGHTEN THE BELT, REPUBLICANS SAY

Since the beginning of the 2011 session, Republican leaders have been adamant that state government has to do the same kind of belt-tightening that businesses must do in tough economic times. Sen. Mike Parry, R-Waseca, the chair of the Senate State Government Innovation and Veterans Committee, said families are also making sacrifices.

"I have constituents that have gotten rid of their cable TV, that have downsized in the vehicles they have, because we're all survivors," Parry said. "I would hope that we could say our state government is taking the lead from our families out there that have had to do the same thing." ...............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/03/30/senate-workforce-reduction-bill/

[rzemanfl]

1. Cable TV and people's JOBS are the same thing? Fuck these

people.

[opihimoimoi]

2. Idiot Move...small mind level....whats good for individuals should not mix when thinking for the BIG

The scale is not the same....

Down sizing reduces Flow$$ = less cash available for stability/growt = lower tax base = econ reduction = poverty = desperation = high crime

rate = energy lost = weaker life styles = misery = eventual extinction = another smart species bites the dust = not smart enough for Peace

[Blue Owl]

3. Funny how they never mention belt-tightening

when extending tax cuts for the rich is on the table.

[Bandit]

4. They need that money to give tax breaks for Corporations and other rich folks.

I mean come on, how can we expect them to give all those tax breaks if so much of the money goes to ordinary folks...

[GKirk]

5. It's all bluster...

...because they know the veto pen is ready.

[MichiganVote]

6. Bet it doesn't touch the salaries or benefits of state management

[KamaAina]

7. Fine. Fire fifteen precent of repuke senators.

:grr: