Disillusioned
I recently saw a huge Markell supporter who is also a State employee. I asked him how he was feeling these days. “Disillusioned” was his response. It seemed to me that he wanted to really rip into the Governor, but that he still had residual goodwill from the election that kept him from screaming. I think there is a lot of that going around.
Tags: Markell
I hope the Greenville Republicans who supported Markell have exactly the same response when they see their increased taxes.
If everybody is unhappy, Markell is probably spreading the pain around fairly.
I still think the 8% will be reduced to something less.
I think disillusioned sums up most people in the public and private sectors. And this feeling applies to everything, not just one elected official.
I can’t even dwell on our retirement or kids’ college funds or the mandatory unpaid furlough we’re taking. Money is tighter than ever for everyone. Aren’t we all in this boat together?
What changed?
When we had our Maria-free meeting with the Governor, I asked him how Governor Minner’s across the board cuts for all departments was “dumb cuts” but his 8% salary cut was smart. He basically said that he would rather not do it, but that he didn’t have enough time to make the smart cuts with so little budget planning time.
I think that sort of logic will hurt his support among the faithful. For reference, I have literally heard people say that this man is responsible for Markell winning the primary. No kidding.
Nothing changed, just reality setting in.
Wanting a 5% cut – ask for 8%.
So when he gets 5%, Markell will look like a great compromiser and an all-around good guy who had to make tough choices.
You had to know his target number was lower than the original asking, right?
Doesn’t much matter. With the health insurance cut and the freezing of educational uplifts, people will be hit more than the number reflects.
Example: My sister teaches at a charter school (already makes less than non-charter teachers). She has been working on a masters degree for the past 2+ years. She graduates in 2 weeks. She will get no bump in pay for this and is out her investment in education.
Now imagine a person currently working in another state that has been working on a masters degree for the same amount of time. If that person comes to Delaware in September and fills a spot in the same school, she will come in at a masters-level of pay.
There are many gotchas in this plan that keep cropping up.
Many of these issue can be addressed by modest increases in corporate filing fees and raised limits on the taxes on the largest corporations. Kowalko has done the hard work already. I hope the Governor starts to warm to the ideas.
She has been working on a masters degree for the past 2+ years. She graduates in 2 weeks. She will get no bump in pay for this and is out her investment in education.
It sucks to graduate into a recession – lots of us did. The idea is that you catch up later. Everyone has a recession or three in their career.
If that person comes to Delaware in September and fills a spot in the same school, she will come in as at a masters-level of pay.
I don’t get it. The proposal cuts the pay of filled positions but not unfilled positions?
anyway – If we don’t have any Delaware teachers to fill that spot I’m happy to pay the premium, at least for the duration of the pay cut (this is still supposed to be a temporary cut, right?)
If you voted for any candidate expecting to get everything you wanted, you deserve to be disappointed, disillusioned and whatever other dis- you can think of.
I didn’t see Jack Markell as a savior, still don’t. But I liked enough of what I saw to vote for him, and in 3+ years my opinion changes, I’ll make that known at the voting booth.
New hires come in at the pay grade commensurate with their education. So my sister will be at the Bachelors+30 and the theoretical transferee will come in at Masters level.
I asked him how Governor Minner’s across the board cuts for all departments was “dumb cuts” but his 8% salary cut was smart.
If I was Jack Markell answering this question, I would have reminded you that the salary cuts were about one-third of the total package and that the other two-thirds cuts in operations were not across-the-board percentages.
If I were in his shoes I wouldn’t do the work to fine tune those cuts, either. No matter what package he would have put out, there would have been the same howling, the same positioning, the same issues. But over smaller cuts for some and bigger cuts for others. Still no one would have been happy and there would be fewer ways to get to the overall number — which is what I think is important to them.
None of this to denigrate the real economic pain this causes state workers, just to lay out what I guess the negotiating position looks like. But I will note that DuPont announced layoffs of approx 2000 this week and these people have no recourse to politicians or the media in an effort to keep their jobs. Lots of people in the private sector are losing their jobs, taking pay cuts, taking furloughs without much recourse to their employers and certainly without the local politicians providing high profile assurances that these folks have been wronged.
No doubt that this is incredibly hard. As it has been for those in the private sector losing their jobs and taking pay cuts too. You can count me as disillusioned that somehow people working for the state are somehow meant to avoid the economic difficulty facing everyone else.
That said, I think that in the end the Legislature will figure out how to rebalance the pay cuts among that pool or even try to enhance a revenue stream to lessen the pain. And we’ll be back at this next budget year.
He did make that point as well. I suspect that it rings hollow to state employees.
Have you had your pay cut? I haven’t…yet.
Kowalko’s proposal has been in Dover for less than a week. Let’s give Jack a bit of time to process it. For that matter, the budget is now in the hands of Joint Finance, isn’t it? Didn’t Jack merely start the ball rolling?
I would like for state employees to recognize that private sector employees have seen paycuts, benefit cuts, and layoffs. Yes, Jack’s proposed budget included significant spending cuts through pay and benefit cuts to state employees, however this isn’t being done in a vacuum.
I, too, like the ideas that Kowalko set forth, and am hopeful that JFC incorporates many, and in this manner is able to lessen the proposed cuts for state employees. I further hope that a budget is passed, and signed by Jack, a budget that is fair and progressive.
I count myself as a non-disillusioned fan of Jack Markell, and of John Kowalko. In fairness, I should mention that I am not a state employee.
Fair enough. I didn’t say that I am disillusioned. But I’m not a state employee either.
I just wonder how many of them are saying WWJCD?
I have not had my pay cut, yet either. And I am not a state employee.
But I do know people in the private sector taking pay cuts and being laid off and am wondering where all of the indignation for them is. Where all of the rallies for them are? Where the blog posts figuring out how to keep them are? While it all may ring hollow to those in the state facing a pay cut, I don’t think that they have any idea of how privileged they are to be able to make a very public case for themselves.
I agree with Paul B’s assessment and I’m not especially disillusioned with either Jack Markell or John Kowalko.
But a big part of the problem that people are facing here is that some wages are not adequate to the jobs being done — teachers at the top of the list — and the state (as have many states) have used squeezed the education system in ways that keep teacher and students at the edge of risk. Once you have a economic problem, you push one or the other over the edge. This shouldn’t be this way.
It won’t change, of course, but all of the folks thinking about this and cheerleading for stateworkers really need to think hard about next year’s budget.
If I was Jack Markell answering this question, I would have reminded you that the salary cuts were about one-third of the total package and that the other two-thirds cuts in operations were not across-the-board percentages.
I made a mistake in this claim — the salary cuts amount to about 12% of the total package of cuts, not one third as I noted.
Markell’s protection of big business (except, I suppose, the gaming industry) and refusal to have them pay a fair share to help balance the budget seems a rather republican thing to do. Then again, balancing the budget on the backs of state employees with pay cuts also seems a republican thing to do. Oh well. Better luck next time.
Although I’m not the person LiberalGeek is referring to, I’d probably give him the same answer. 🙂
Just a frame of reference, one of our IT staffers in an agency that I don’t presently support 🙂 gave his two week notice Thursday. This person has about 8 years with state government, so he is not as tied to the state as I am with my 22 years of service. Of course, we will not be able to fill this position and I’ll be taking over most of his duties. Now, I’m not complaining, as some of the stuff he does is pretty neat and I’d not mind getting my hands into it. But I have three points with this
1) With certain job specialties, GOOD people will leave the state. I’m talking about Civil Engineers, Nurses, CO’s that the state can’t find enough of now.
2) I’m not complaining, but I’m going to be expected to add some stuff to duties, but get paid less. 🙂
3) No matter what happens for this coming fiscal year, the following fiscal year will be worse! I’ve heard rumblings of the need to lose between 2000 and 4000 positions statewide (including casual/seasonal and contractors) between calendar year 2010 and 11. I have no clue, other than early retirements and layoffs, how that number will be achieved.
Although the sports betting bill got passed, I’m not sure anyone working for the state appreciated the Governor’s comments about the two being tied together.
And Honestly, I still might vote for Markell again. I do like some of the Government Performance Review things I am hearing. He is in a tough spot.
And a nice shout out to Kolwalko. Thanks John.
Geek–were you looking for me?
My paycuts would be different. I wouldn’t touch the first 50K of anyone’s money–then 4% of the next 50K, then 6% of the next 50K, and 8% thereafter. But that’s IF I had to mess with people.
I’d rather mess w/ waste, and really drill then, this citizen accountability thing, and ask for AND see posted some of the suggestions, that are supposedly coming in. All this working in isolation I sense, isn’t working–and the few “dribbles” of cuts–all major, only cause angst, and angina for many. Let’s see some minor ones too, that can exponentially have impact, and spark citizens to maybe think of more. Geez, when you punch ’em in the gut first out, folks tend to get a little testy and turn on you.
I agree with JC.
World ends.
Just kidding.
@17 — If the budget gap is $760M+/- and the employee pay cut is 91M, I want to understand how this budget is being balanced on the backs of state employees. It looks to me like the vast majority of the cuts are coming from someplace else.
And to JC — I don’t see how 670M +/- in cuts to the rest of the budget can be “dribbles”.
And I want to hear the list of 670M in waste that can be cut. Specifics please.
And Mark H — your siuation is one that many companies who are ratcheting back on employees face. The folks who can, jump ship, and others who have a stake try to hang in doing many people’s work. And everyone’s work starts to suffer. I lived through that once and never want to have to live through that again. That organization came this close to completely closing its doors. And even though they’ll tell you otherwise, your management — at any level — has no idea how lucky they are to have you and people like you who will stick it out and try to make things work.
cass–that’s my point–yes there well may be these salary cuts…but we really have no “clearinghouse” of citizen ideas that may be out there. Who knows–a DelDot worker might add a huge financial insight on the job he does everyday, and just shakes his head and says “you know the state would save so much money if only….”, or a correction worker, or social worker and on and on. The legislators don’t know the drill down of all functions, and perhaps the untapped savings of doing business differently. You can’t expect them to. But maybe a private citizen, or state worker does know, and needs to send that word along. And I would love to see some of those ideas posted. “Dribbles” referred to amount of information given, not amount of money involved–sorry for the confusion. It’s the ol’ “the beatings will continue until morale improves” way of cutting. So we don’t get to hear about anything else, but the salary cuts, and the complaints of salary cuts(besides Kowalko, Boninni, Geek). And I have submitted some savings–from non-sacrificial to privilege recall, and low-impact. So we’ll see. I just think it would be cool for some state office worker to say “Do you know we subscribe to 457 periodicals monthly, and do nothing with them?” Or something like that– What a great day for them and the State!!! DISCLAIMER– Prior example was only an example and not to be confused with fact–DISCLAIMER
In getting mad at those who get elected, I have often found it therapeutic sometimes, to imagine how the same mess would be handled had either of his opponents been put into that office instead…
The Minner network, versus the Copeland Contingent….
Hmmm. Things don’t seem that bad now after all.
I have had a paycut, plus at least 5 people in my immediate work group have lost their jobs. My company just announced more job cuts. I feel for the state employees, but they’re not the only ones suffering here. I’m getting a pay cut and my PIT and property taxes are being raised. The suffering is widespread.
“And I want to hear the list of 670M in waste that can be cut. Specifics please.”
OK, Let me take a couple of whacks at this 🙂
1) Take a look at a large # of filled positions (For reference, the term Deputy Principal Assistant is shorthand for Political Crony who we can’t otherwise find a job for :)) that serve no function that can’t be done away with.
2) DelDot has a very large # of contractors (and these aren’t just engineering positions either) that cost the State more that having state employees do that job
3) Tell Verizon that we need a 15% cut in our wireless bill.
4) Consolidation of IT, HR, Accounting functions throughout the State. (Already being done)
5) HAve the State open only 4 days a week. This gives you electricity savings plus allows for the hours that the state is open to be earlier/later
Of course, this doesn’t cover the shortfall 🙂 The problem with most of any of these types of suggestions is that they don’t help with next year’s budget as much as they would for the following years.
“your management — at any level — has no idea how lucky they are to have you”
Yes they are as I’m always letting them know :). No really, my manager has been very appreciative of my taking over the other person’s duties as well as the other stuff I do. In return, he allows me to work a 4 day workweek and in effect allows me to manage myself 🙂
That’s what I like Mark! And I agree about the 4 day week for some services–but a 10 hour day. Motor vehicle is packed on Wednesday evenings–HELLO!!
And while I’m on DMV let me give another round of applause for the friendliest, customer oriented group of folks I have the pleasure to deal with probably 2x a year–the DOVER DMV. They know how to do it down there–if anyone is looking to switch DMVs –it is worth the trip. I won’t miss an opportunity to report how swell they are. Truly.
Georgetown DMV is awesome too. What a pleasant surprise.
I think it’s time to bone up on the idea of a litering tax for vessels on the Delaware River. I think we’ll be seeing some legislation on that in the near future and there is great potential for a steady income stream. It would definitely create enough revenue to avoid pay cuts and probably even enough to eliminate income tax hikes.
I was a huge Markell supporter myself and remain a huge supporter. He’s got a tough job that I’m sure didn’t look nearly as tough when he started out on this trek to the governor’s office. He’s working diligently to fix the mess left to us by the Minner administration. I have tremendous faith in his business acumen and my hope for Delaware to come through this is a better position than ever before remains intact.
Somewhere, John Carney must be thanking his lucky stars.
But Mark–let me add to your list–and unpopular it will be–but a privilege revoked.
Stop the SEED program now.
There I said it, I’ve spoken to receptive legislators, but I never see it in print, as a GLARING extra, that can be cut–to the tune of what 3.1 million this year?
And here’s why:
Those applying have to apply for FAFSA anyway, so why all the cost?
Funds can only be used through DelTech.
Records indicate we are often paying for “remedial” subjects, as part of their full-time schedule.
Undocumented graduates also have access to that funding.
You have got to be kidding me?
I understand paying for public education because children of undocumented, who too are undocumented, are minors and we can be compassionate to that level.
But c’mon–you are now an adult. Time to play by the rules. We should not continue this outright benefit/privilege of a college education as if it’s 13th grade.
The state can’t continue my kids teachers’ salaries at par levels in mandated, compulsory, public policy K-12 (and in some cases longer), but foot the bill at an optional secondary level?
I am not OK with that–and even more not OK, of how we see no one writing about it.
It was a gift. A pony at the birthday party. But this year, we need to do a small family birthday party, so I don’t think a pony is really needed.
Please take the gift back!!
And DSEA where are you on this?!!
I really would like to help..but again, this is one of those “new sacred cows”, we have to look at–and again–guide me if I am all wrong. But no one in my private conversations has said I am–so will somebody say SLASH IT publicly, and build some momentum?
Joanne, upon reading your opinion of ‘teh undocumented brown-skinned usurping state funds’, I’m glad that you didn’t get anywhere close to leg hall in an official capacity.
You have had some really good ideas of how to reduce spending but SEED should be left to grow.
When we are talking about kids and going forward in this economy, ‘optional secondary ed.’ is going to be one of the biggest factors in readying the waves of newly unemployed and never employed.
Jill Biden is gearing up for a Presidential mandate for support for two year degree programs in this capacity. I only wish that DSU would get its act together and install a comprehensive Associate Degree program so they can be eligible for the SEED kids too.
No Nancy–it’s about what we MUST do on the front end, to have students better qualified on exit.
Cutting out dessert, just may support financially a more nutritious meal.
But say what you will–I did, and opened myself for your narrow comment, on a very real, expensive budget allocation we have in this state, that is an extra and a gift at this point in time.
I have to agree with Joanne. We can’t afford right now to spend money we don’t have on people who aren’t our responsibility. The entire SEED program is optional. We have no obligation to spend the money on people who do not have a legal claim to it. It is different at the mandatory schooling level. We mandate an education and it is right to pay for it. It is an investment into a societal foundation.
Once these children become adults, they can get a student visa and do it right. It becomes their choice and responsibility. When they were minors they had no choice and should not be punished for a fact they can’t control.
PI is coreect about getting easy revenue from oil lightering. I am surprised DLers don’t take up the cudgel with this one.
The main thing standing in its way is a Minner-era hack, Gary Patterson. [http://delawareliberal.net//2009/05/06/showdown-at-the-delaware-way-corral/]
Just because Jack Markell hired Patterson’s kid to be his legislative liaison doesn’t mean Jack will bow down to papa Patterson’s mean old lobbying-the-big-oil-interests gig like Minner and co. always would. (crosses fingers)
There are some really flagrant stories around about Delaware Petroleum Council’s Patterson and the lengths he allegedly went to embarrass a certain member of the GA over this oil lightering ‘threat’ to the corporate staus quo.
Whoa, all of a sudden the supposition exodes that SEED ….SEED isn’t likely supporting non-documented aliens…if that is what you GOPerheads are implying. But I don’t know either way for a fact that Delaware is spending “the money on people who do not have a legal claim to it”.
Is there some kind of way to verify this claim, Joanne?
It is important to do a better job on the front end – YES. The “public” reason the UD started shuttling kids to DelTech for an associate’s is because they weren’t prepared and needed the remedial. That’s nothing new.
An Associates Degree is an extra and a gift at this point in time?
This program may or may not need to be on the chopping block, but let’s not pretend that huge numbers of our kids will be able to maintain some economic viability on a high school diploma. Are your kids getting the message that education beyond high school is an extra?
Consolidating school districts makes more sense to me — reducing the massive repetition of overhead among 19 districts — as a way to get the “more nutritious meal”. Given the costs per kid in this state, there is money to be had for some of that meal — the grownups have to give up some of their own “sacred cows” to get it.
Consolidation is not the be all and end all for making sure there is a more “nutritious meal” up front, but it is a step in the right direction. Like most school systems, the deficits here are structural and not easy to address. And until someone, somewhere puts as much effort and thinking into selling the creation of a first class education system as they might into, say, a new casino or stadium we will always be stuck in the same paradigm. But few people will move here because we have a new casino or convention center — people will move here because their kids can get a top of the line education.
Thinking in terms of “gifts” and “extras” you might as well cut back DEDO while you are at it. Because why spend the effort to sell a state with educated and skilled workers if they aren’t here?
“Thinking in terms of “gifts” and “extras” you might as well cut back DEDO while you are at it.”
Cassandra_m, not that I would necessarily agree with Joanne on this one, but I see the necessity of checking every Agency/program statewide and examine:
What effect will shuttering this Agency, Program, Position, etc have on the CORE FUNCTION of State Government. This means looking at some “sacred cows”
I do too.
And if education is a sacred cow, then let’s get rid of it and ask parents to fund what they need for their kids.