Please do not use black when posting it is very hard to read ... anyone posting needs to change the font to a light color ... I have had to fight with this a few times myself.
THANKS and have a good 3 day weekend.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Union trying to look like they are doing something for state workers.
Union Leader To Meet With O'MalleySaturday, January 16, 2010
The director of Maryland's largest union for state employees says Gov. Martin O'Malley's administration is meeting with unions early next week to discuss the state's difficult budget situation. Patrick Moran, executive director of the Maryland chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said Friday he's urging the administration to avoid state employee layoffs. Moran says the state needs its employees now more than ever to provide services to struggling state residents. O'Malley is scheduled to release the fiscal year 2011 budget on Wednesday. The administration hasn't provided any details yet on any layoffs or a furloughs to address a $2 billion deficit. |
Friday, January 15, 2010
Get Your Dramamine Ready!
Layoffs loom in O'Malley budget -Governor to unveil spending plan Wednesday
http://www.gazette.net/stories/01152010/polinew193914_32549.php
http://www.gazette.net/stories/01152010/polinew193914_32549.php
Are you as disgusted as I am?
I have to tell you, I'm so disgusted I couldn't sleep last night. It's 3 a.m. where I am right now. The icing on the cake for me was finding out that a special interest group, unions, were given an exemption for 6 years from the surtax that the rest of this country's health insurance plans will be hit with under the health care reform bill as it is currently written.
MOM signed the Executive Order last session that places every State worker, with the exception of special appointments, at the hands of the union assigned to their unit. What this means, if you have not already heard, is that eventually, when the unions renegotiate their contracts with the State, they can sneak in service fees to non-members. This would be approximately $20-$35 bucks a month for every state worker that the Executive Order covers. For AFSCME alone, that is an influx of about $8.5-$9 million dollars a year from employees who want nothing to do with a union.
This new deal the unions made with Obama is actually to State employees' benefits but I am so against it that I could spit nails right now. It is wrong and it is going to lead to our health coverage eventually being a lesser version of what we have now for a higher cost. They will not have to the pay the 40% surcharge but when they renegotiate the contracts they are going to need to do something to offset that 40%. I see it as a way to get us more into the federal plan, although I could be wrong.
I do not see it as a good thing. I don't trust them and I am very concerned about this. It has never been so important for us, as both citizens and government workers, to pay close attention to what is going on both federally and state-wise that will affect our futures.
Alot of workers have given up hope and feel that there is nothing they can do about the things that have been going on that affects our paychecks and our families. They are afraid to speak out about it and afraid to go against the grain. The last time I checked, Obama hasn't yet thrown the U S Constitution away and since that has not yet occurred, we do have the right to freedom of speech and we cannot be fired or laid off for supporting a specific political candidate or voicing our opinions.
If State workers do not begin to get that hope back and at least say what they are thinking, we are doomed. We need to go to work and do our jobs, the best that we can and not let all of this turn us into the dead wood that many of us see around some state offices. At the same time, we need to show that we do have dignity and that we are human beings and should be respected for the jobs that we do for the people of this State.
There will be a State worker rally in Annapolis on February 4th from 10:30-12:30. I have taken a 1/2 of furlough and 1/2 of personal day to attend. I'm not going to disrespect our legislators but I am going to let them know I'm human and expect to be treated as such. What better way to spend furlough time than to get a point across to the group of individuals that will be planning our futures.
I hope that you will plan on attending too.
MOM signed the Executive Order last session that places every State worker, with the exception of special appointments, at the hands of the union assigned to their unit. What this means, if you have not already heard, is that eventually, when the unions renegotiate their contracts with the State, they can sneak in service fees to non-members. This would be approximately $20-$35 bucks a month for every state worker that the Executive Order covers. For AFSCME alone, that is an influx of about $8.5-$9 million dollars a year from employees who want nothing to do with a union.
This new deal the unions made with Obama is actually to State employees' benefits but I am so against it that I could spit nails right now. It is wrong and it is going to lead to our health coverage eventually being a lesser version of what we have now for a higher cost. They will not have to the pay the 40% surcharge but when they renegotiate the contracts they are going to need to do something to offset that 40%. I see it as a way to get us more into the federal plan, although I could be wrong.
I do not see it as a good thing. I don't trust them and I am very concerned about this. It has never been so important for us, as both citizens and government workers, to pay close attention to what is going on both federally and state-wise that will affect our futures.
Alot of workers have given up hope and feel that there is nothing they can do about the things that have been going on that affects our paychecks and our families. They are afraid to speak out about it and afraid to go against the grain. The last time I checked, Obama hasn't yet thrown the U S Constitution away and since that has not yet occurred, we do have the right to freedom of speech and we cannot be fired or laid off for supporting a specific political candidate or voicing our opinions.
If State workers do not begin to get that hope back and at least say what they are thinking, we are doomed. We need to go to work and do our jobs, the best that we can and not let all of this turn us into the dead wood that many of us see around some state offices. At the same time, we need to show that we do have dignity and that we are human beings and should be respected for the jobs that we do for the people of this State.
There will be a State worker rally in Annapolis on February 4th from 10:30-12:30. I have taken a 1/2 of furlough and 1/2 of personal day to attend. I'm not going to disrespect our legislators but I am going to let them know I'm human and expect to be treated as such. What better way to spend furlough time than to get a point across to the group of individuals that will be planning our futures.
I hope that you will plan on attending too.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
While we take furloughs MAIF gets bonuses
State auto insurer defends spending, bonuses
By Len Lazarick
Len@MarylandReporter.com
Officials with the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund defended their spending and staff bonuses to legislators on the joint audit committee Monday.
In a December report, state auditors were highly critical of $1.4 million in bonuses paid out to management and staff at the quasi-public agency for motorists who can’t get coverage anywhere else in 2008. That year, the insurer lost $20 million.
The audit also criticized MAIF spending $250,000 on consultants, marketing and lobbying, as well as on a $15,000 “appreciation” dinner for agents who refer clients.
http://marylandreporter.com/page5502050.aspx
MCEA SPONSORED STATE EMPLOYEE RALLY
http://www.mcea.org/Flyers/2010_Rally.pdf
WHO: ALL STATE EMPLOYEES
WHEN: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2010
TIME: 10:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.
WHERE: LAWYERS MALL IN ANNAPOLIS, MD
* Transportation available.
WHO: ALL STATE EMPLOYEES
WHEN: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2010
TIME: 10:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.
WHERE: LAWYERS MALL IN ANNAPOLIS, MD
* Transportation available.
O'Malley budget could make over government
http://gazette.net/stories/01112010/...5343_32555.php
"The budget will have reorganization and restructurings," said Shaun Adamec, an O'Malley (D) spokesman.
You know the budget must be in dire straits if the O'Malley administration is looking for Ehrlich-era ideas
---
Sen. David R. Brinkley, who serves on the Budget and Taxation Committee, said Monday that he had asked the legislature's analysts for a list of overlap among state departments in an effort to consolidate and possibly eliminate some department secretaries.
"I'm pursuing that on my own. If the governor has some inclination in that regard, I'm optimistic we can work together," said Brinkley (R-Dist. 4) of New Market.
"The budget will have reorganization and restructurings," said Shaun Adamec, an O'Malley (D) spokesman.
You know the budget must be in dire straits if the O'Malley administration is looking for Ehrlich-era ideas
---
Sen. David R. Brinkley, who serves on the Budget and Taxation Committee, said Monday that he had asked the legislature's analysts for a list of overlap among state departments in an effort to consolidate and possibly eliminate some department secretaries.
"I'm pursuing that on my own. If the governor has some inclination in that regard, I'm optimistic we can work together," said Brinkley (R-Dist. 4) of New Market.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Maryland Lawmakers Brace For Budget Fights
http://woldcnews.com/local/berniemccain/maryland-lawmakers-brace-for-budget-fights/
So what’s left to cut?
“The services that citizens expect and depend on,” Bergsman says.
Astle agrees. Lawmakers have cut as much fat as they could in the last few General Assembly sessions.
“It’s not going to be a fun time to be a legislator, I can tell you that,” Astle says.
IT'S NOT A FUN TIME BEING AN EMPLOYEE EITHER, GRIN AND BEAR IT LIKE WE'VE HAD TO DO SINCE NOVEMBER, 2008.
So what’s left to cut?
“The services that citizens expect and depend on,” Bergsman says.
Astle agrees. Lawmakers have cut as much fat as they could in the last few General Assembly sessions.
“It’s not going to be a fun time to be a legislator, I can tell you that,” Astle says.
IT'S NOT A FUN TIME BEING AN EMPLOYEE EITHER, GRIN AND BEAR IT LIKE WE'VE HAD TO DO SINCE NOVEMBER, 2008.
Health care bill bitter pill for Maryland's budget
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/business/display.htm?storyid=99844
It is really scary," said Delegate Donald Elliott, a Republican. "The Medicaid costs transferred to the state could be $191 million. Where will we get the money?"
Some states have looked at opting-out of the federal health care plan. "It comes down to politics," Elliott said. "Can you imagine a Democratic governor doing that? We will have to see what happens with the health care bill. Will it be another 'closed-door' bill pushed through and signed by the president?"
It is really scary," said Delegate Donald Elliott, a Republican. "The Medicaid costs transferred to the state could be $191 million. Where will we get the money?"
Some states have looked at opting-out of the federal health care plan. "It comes down to politics," Elliott said. "Can you imagine a Democratic governor doing that? We will have to see what happens with the health care bill. Will it be another 'closed-door' bill pushed through and signed by the president?"
Sunday, January 10, 2010
George Owings for Governor
http://www.owingsforgovernor.org/
After much thought and research, I've decided that I am going to support Mr. Owings in his quest as Governor. He was a Maryland legislator for many years and was appointed by Governor Ehrlich to lead the Verterans Affairs Administration as Secretary during Ehrlich's term as Governor. He is pro-life and pro-family. In my opinion, he is a good man and he is liked by both parties which I feel is a plus for anyone who may serve as Governor. Perhaps Maryland needs the kind of change that someone who has friends in both parties can bring to the platform.
You can find some information about Mr. Owings at the following websites:
http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/24dva/former/html/msa12286.html
After much thought and research, I've decided that I am going to support Mr. Owings in his quest as Governor. He was a Maryland legislator for many years and was appointed by Governor Ehrlich to lead the Verterans Affairs Administration as Secretary during Ehrlich's term as Governor. He is pro-life and pro-family. In my opinion, he is a good man and he is liked by both parties which I feel is a plus for anyone who may serve as Governor. Perhaps Maryland needs the kind of change that someone who has friends in both parties can bring to the platform.
You can find some information about Mr. Owings at the following websites:
http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/24dva/former/html/msa12286.html
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