What to cut? What to cut? That is the question. In these days of bipartisanship, we can all agree the government is bloated. A huge festering blob of puss. It is disgusting really. Governments…yuck! All full of losers who couldn’t hack it in the private sector, sponging up all our tax dollars. Lazy shitbag bus drivers, and stupid park rangers with their dumb hats. Christamighty, get a real job! And teachers, ugh…don’t get me started. How can we pick “winners” out of this sad sack collection of losers?
And yet, we need a balanced budget. What’s that you say? Raise taxes? Oh please. How much can we really ask of smokers before they start leaving for Pennsylvania? It is a quandary. Enter Brian Pettyjohn. He is the man with the plan. And it is a plan you can fit on a Wawa receipt, even if you have large childish handwriting.
1) A 1% across the board cut to everything (but not jobs or state payroll).
2) A “right-to-work” law.
I’m not sure how a right-to-work law that would allow non-union members to enjoy the benefits of being in a union, would help balance the budget, but Republicans seem to view “right-to-work” as some kind of economic development miracle cure.
“So the obvious question is: What do we do instead?
“If you ask each of the 25 lawmakers who signed the letter, you may get 25 different answers. Many of my colleagues agree that all state agencies should share the load in an effort to reduce wasteful spending. Just a one percent reduction across the board – without cutting jobs or pay – would save taxpayers about 40 million dollars a year, more than triple what the governor’s plan would bring in.
“And frankly, we would prefer to be in a position where budget cuts are not necessary. We’d prefer balancing the budget through an improved economy. Time and again Republicans have introduced legislation to begin the discussion on prevailing wage and right-to-work laws… initiatives that have been successful in other states in attracting more high-wage jobs. But these pieces of legislation have been buried in committee or flat out ignored by Democrats here in Delaware.
“Here’s hoping the governor and Democrats will finally engage in a meaningful discussion with us on these and other ideas to move Delaware in the right direction. Thank you.”