Despite Setbacks Organized Labor Sticks with O'Malley

http://www.gazette.net/stories/11132...22_32523.shtml

"We certainly don't hold Governor O'Malley responsible for the state of the economy," said Fred D. Mason Jr., president of the Maryland State and DC AFL-CIO. "Unfortunately, he has had to make some hard choices."
...
The head of the union that represents 70,000 state workers hopes that no news is good news. AFSCME Maryland Director Patrick Moran said Thursday he had not yet been notified of any pending reductions hurting state employees, and he normally would have heard something at this point.
....
More recently, O'Malley succeeded in passing a so-called fair-share bill requiring nonunion members to pay dues to be represented by labor groups in contract negotiations. He also pushed through increases in penalties for employers who misclassify employees as independent contractors.

If the governor can build on that resume next year, he can alleviate criticism about the decisions to impose furloughs and lay off workers, said Sean Dobson, executive director of Progressive Maryland, an organization with strong ties to labor unions.

"He's built up a lot of credibility with the labor movement, and all it will take is one more good session for labor to be fired up and work hard for him for re-election," he said.
..
Cuts to community service providers have been deeply troubling for members of SEIU Local 500, but O'Malley has used federal stimulus dollars wisely to avert more catastrophic budget actions, said Anna E. Oman, communications director for the group that represents 18,000 workers.

"We understand these are difficult times, but these are programs that have been underfunded even in good times," she said of the cuts to developmental disabilities programs. "It's time now to take a look at a systemic approach to fixing the structural problems of human services funding so that when times do improve we have a long-term solution that appropriately funds services for our most vulnerable."
...

AFSCME Maryland members understand that the national recession has forced the governor's hand, even if that doesn't make it any easier to stomach, Moran said.
_______________________________________

BS PATRICK! Keep on sucking up to management and your days will be numbered in Maryland. The unions are making up excuses for what is happening when every single person on this forum knows that fruitless spending is a big part of it. I'm furious right now. When Patrick Moran speaks he is speaking on behalf of AFSCME and his over $100,000 salary, he is not speaking for that office clerk whose now forced to pay agency fees thanks to our management to a do nothing union who is kissing up instead of protecting workers and services.

With Budget, Third Cut is the Deepest

http://www.gazette.net/stories/11132009/polinew194221_32522.shtml

"[O'Malley] has to stop this charade of state employee furloughs," he said. "It does nothing in the long run to fix this problem and it causes pain for very little gain."


An earlier round of cuts ordered up to 10 furlough days for state employees and laid off 200 other state workers. O'Malley is rumored to be considering further cuts to the state work force.

FYI Regarding the Budget Post Below

The link in that post is a memo from 2008.  Most of the budget cuts in that memo are cuts that have already taken place.

I received the contents of that post from someone in my work email and had not clicked the link.  I have not been able to figure out if the beginning part are new cuts or old.  I wanted to pass it onto y'all.

Americans for Prosperity

http://www.americansforprosperity.org/maryland

Budget Cuts

Summary of Gov. O'Malley's potential budget cuts


• Briefing memo from Sec. of the Dept. of Budget & Management>>

• Full list of potential budget cuts>>

Here are some of the $396.6 million in cuts being considered by Gov. Martin O’Malley to help close a budget gap. Because of reserves, the state will have to cut about $250 million to balance its books this year. The Board of Public Works is set to consider the decreases on Wednesday.

• $48 million: six-day furlough for state workers.

• $37.9 million: 50 percent reduction in education subsidy for high-cost jurisdictions.

• $26.3 million: reduce health care provider rates by 50 percent.

• $20 million: abolish 400 vacant positions statewide.

• $16.4 million: level-fund aid to community colleges.

• $8.4 million: reduce aid to private colleges.

• $6 million: lower payments to local jails by 25 percent.

• $5.3 million: freeze enrollment in child care subsidies for working poor, serving 2,500 fewer children.

• $4.5 million: hiring freeze for Maryland State Police troopers.

• $2.9 million: eliminate 283 vacant correctional officer positions.

• $1.8 million: level-fund local health aid.

• $1 million: reduce BRAC grants from the Maryland Higher Education Commission for literacy and regional higher education.

• $505,000: level-fund local police aid.

• $25,000: cut Historic Annapolis Foundation grant by 5 percent.

State Revenues May Finaly be on the Rise

http://mddailyrecord.com/2009/11/11/...e-on-the-rise/

Stronger state revenues could mean Maryland will not have to make more cuts to the fiscal 2010 budget after $300 million in scheduled reductions are announced by the Board of Public Works later this month.
...
Now the state faces serious challenges as it prepares to draft the fiscal 2011 budget in the upcoming legislative session.
...
“The bottom line is there’s not going to be a lot of room for original thinking in the next capital budget. …. It’s truly a zero sum situation,” said Deschenaux.

For instance, spending dropped by about $200 million on capital projects and roughly $170 million on state agencies, while K-12 education grew by almost $1 billion.

Nearly 60 percent of the money for K-12 education went to fund the Thornton school reform plan, which was originally passed in 2002 to equalize educational opportunities across jurisdictions.

Thornton needs to be rethought. Tuition freeze needs to be lifted. Maryland now is listed as having one of the lowest in state tuitions around. Time to keep up with the "Joneses".

State Transportation Secretary to Lead MDOT Spending Plan Discussion

http://www.gazette.net/stories/11112009/montnew182204_32533.shtml

State transportation secretary to lead MDOT spending plan discussion
Future budget cuts could mean fewer resurfacing projects, pothole repairs

Received this in facebook ... I think its a good idea and funny at same time

______ invited you to "Martin O'Malley Annapolis Protest Planning Meeting" on Thursday, November 19 at 7:00pm.




Event: Martin O'Malley Annapolis Protest Planning Meeting

"if you're planning on protesting his band show in Annapolis..."

What: Informational Meeting

Start Time: Thursday, November 19 at 7:00pm

End Time: Thursday, November 19 at 9:00pm

Where: Victory Lounge

10/29/09 - layoffs from 8/26th decision began

State budget cuts will mean layoffs this week for 40 Maryland state employees.


The filled jobs are among more than 800 mostly vacant positions eliminated because of this year’s budget shortfall.

Gov. Martin O’Malley’s administration says the layoffs Wednesday will include more than 20 jobs in the Department of Transportation.

Seven of the 40 people being laid off make more than $100,000 annually.

The employees were given two weeks’ notice, four weeks severance pay and four months of health benefits

Dems, GOP Get Into It Over State Budget at Chamber Conference

No new taxes in 2010, Miller says; O'Donnell says budget uses too much stimulus money

http://www.gazette.net/stories/11092009/polinew172354_32537.shtml

This is what Americans are up against

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ1NJaCtIkM

In Obama's own words I might add.

Pat McDonough Running for Governor

It appears that Delegate McDonough has thrown his hat in the ring for Gov.  He says if Ehrlich runs, he will step down.  In the meantime, let's try to do a little research and see what we can come up with on Delegate McDonough ... what legislation he favored, etc.

Here's his thoughts on illegal immigration and the English language.

http://www.patmcdonough.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42&Itemid=38

12% Pay Cut for State Workers - Rumor

I received a rumor in my email ... that the Gov is considering a 12% pay cut for all State workers ... it seems farfetched and outlandish ... however, I wanted to post the rumor as a rumor.

If you figure out what you have given back to the State since December, 2008 when the first furlough days were announced, including no increment and no cola, you will be shocked at the total.  Mine comes to a little more than 10%, 14 furlough days in 18 months, $600 match to 401K, no increment, no cola....equals at least 10% of my yearly before tax salary.

So, in those terms, considering there will be a 3 billion dollar deficit for 2011, 12% cut is not that far fetched.

Scary to say the least.