Our Views: Cool slogan; pointless bill

 

In 2009, state Treasurer John N. Kennedy called for a cut of 5,000 state employees each year for three years. It was the cornerstone pledge of his agitation against the big spender in charge of state government - Gov. Bobby Jindal, as it happens.

Now, 5,000 is a good round number. Perfect for the headlines.

In the years since, reckless tax cuts and economic malaise have taken a toll on the state budget. Jindal has pushed to privatize state services and cut state employees at various levels.

State employment is now at its lowest level in 20 years, according to independent studies. Jindal's proposed budget for fiscal year 2013 would cut more.

So what does Kennedy, still seeking to be more conservative than Jindal, push this year? Two bills by Rep. Dee Richard, No Party-Thibodaux. One bill mandates a 10 percent cut in consulting contracts. Another mandates a cut of 5,000 state employees each year over the next three years.

The House passed both bills, a relatively easy thing to do since both are essentially meaningless: The Senate is unlikely to take them up, and in any case their vague provisions would be overridden by the specific appropriations and staffing levels in the budget bill that is also now before the Legislature.

What concerns us is the question of why, if 5,000 per year was the right number in late 2008, is it still the right number in 2012?

We think the answer to the question is evident. It's a political slogan, not a serious exercise in budgeting.

Comments

1) Comment by jobo - 22/05/2012

It may not be a serious exercise in budgeting, but it is a serious exercise in the destruction and eventual privatization of our state government.

2) Comment by Skinnydipper - 20/05/2012

@SuzanneMS: You said it best. State employees are already taking up the "slack" when vacancies are not filled. I am seeing people leave in droves because 1) they cannot do the work of 3 people in a quality manner and they can't abide doing shoddy work to survive 2) the mental and physical stress of trying to stay above water, working K-time, etc begins to affect their families and 3) the managers lean on them to "just get it done" and then investigate them for improprieties. In summary, saddle them with more work than is humanly possible, tell them to just do it any old way, and then crucify them when they fail or get caught. Believe it not you folks who rag on state employees, we fill a vast array of positions that affect YOUR daily lives. You might want some competent, dedicated people in these positions - some value for your bucks. After we are "purged" and replaced by private corporations, only them will it become apparent that one truly gets what one pays for. And last of all, I think the Advocate does not "attack" conservatives. Just about anything the hardcore conservative, teabagger types do or say sounds awful in print. They do it to themselves by being so hard hearted. The issues our state has to deal with are PEOPLE, not numbers! And it appears that these conservatives are only concerned about their $$$ and protecting corporations, not the people and families of this state. Amen.

3) Comment by Vernonbrew22 - 19/05/2012

Mama always said Sonny don't ya bite the hand that feeds ya,mwell ole JK has been biting state government hard the last few terms. But make no mistake about it, he and the likes of BJ and other so called conservatives made many deal through the establishment. Now, they bite and spit on the working man each and every day. Kennedy has never had any original ideas, just a pointed nose and a bunch of drunk children and relatives. Just like a Kennedy... Not even close.

4) Comment by dday198 - 19/05/2012

yea, see you point mt t why would the manships care, the paper only has their name on it.

5) Comment by Mr. T - 19/05/2012

@dday, If you think the Manships write these editorials, you need to be drug-tested. They could care less what goes into the advocate...and that's a big part of the problem.

6) Comment by SuzanneMS - 19/05/2012

They have been eliminating open positions. Just how many peoples' jobs are the remaining employees supposed to absorb? Most people I know are now doing the work of at least 3 full-time employees. Not only have they not had raises in 4 years, they are constantly reprimanded for being behind in their work. Of course, when administrators take on additional duties, they get a salary increase. I constantly hear that the state government is "too big," but have yet to see anyone show clearly exactly where the fat is or any attempts to trim it. They are just blindly slashing away, although there is always plenty of money for the Governor and his staff.

7) Comment by DMJ - 19/05/2012

If they're going to cut employees, the best way is not simply to fire people. This would further depress the economy. After all, people with no incomes can't buy things, now can they? Instead, they should simply not staff vacant positions. The responsibilities of these vacant posts can be absorbed by other members of the department. Don't lay people off; just don't fill vacant positions. And for gods' sake, don't settle on some arbitrary number. This is just lazy accounting, which in my opinion, is unbecoming of the State Treasurer.

8) Comment by dday198 - 19/05/2012

the manship family are all bleeding heart libs? get real man. they endorsed jindal with the exception of doug manship.

9) Comment by Terd Handler - 19/05/2012

The Advocate are the last people who should talk about budgeting...they are going broke, and rightfully so, with these constant attacks on conservatives. Their newspaper is constantly shrinking, and it is just a matter of time till it disappears completely. That can't happen soon enough...most of us are already depending more on tv for our news. It is not so biased.

10) Comment by dday198 - 19/05/2012

this tea is stale

11) Comment by 8point6 - 19/05/2012

Attacking conservatives is "our views"/this medium's job.

12) Comment by Mr. T - 19/05/2012

Too bad we can't the number of jobs over at the advocate. You guys deserve to be shut down. John Kennedy is a good man, and doesn't deserve to be the butt of crude attacks like this.