Interesting proposed legislation

http://www.eastcountytimesonline.com/psimparr.htm

The second piece of legislation has arisen due to the bad economy. State employees have been forced to take furlough days. While furloughing employees may at times be preferable to layoffs, I think it is also absolutely appalling for the State to force furloughs on the employees, while elected officials are exempt. It is especially reprehensible in a year in which the State of Maryland, through its budget, has increased its spending. It is wrong to ask State employees to take home less money this year, when the State has refused to make the same sacrifice by curtailing spending. And elected officials are not even required to take furloughs.


So my legislation simply is that the State of Maryland cannot force furloughs on State employees in a year that the State budget has increased compared to the previous year, unless the Governor calls an emergency session to reduce the State budget to the prior year's funding. Then and only then should they be allowed to furlough State employees. At the same time, those furloughs should be mandatory on everyone who receives a State paycheck, including elected officials.

Needless to say neither of these bills would have been necessary if, first, the State had not given voting rights to convicted felons and, second, they had held to a flat-line budget equal to or less than last year's.