I am not a MD state employee, but a Virginia state employee. I don't really think that you'd be saying that if you were in our shoes. Though we haven't heard about furloughs yet, Kaine has not released his plans for the next 1.5 billion shortfall we are facing. We've had several positions in my area removed, or not refilled after someone has left, leaving us all to do other jobs that we were not hired to do, or sometimes even qualified to do. We haven't seen a single pay increase (even cost of living, etc.) since the beginning of 2007. So as gas prices climbed last year, and health care costs have climbed each year, and taxes anf fees have increased we've all had to do more with less just like everyone else.

Please do not sit there and act like State employees are protected, because we are not. Though we haven't seen wide scale layoffs like other sectors, we have seen losses incrementally throughout the downturn.

How about telling your employer, The Sun, that you are taking a two week unpaid vacation to help their bottom line since they aren't doing too well either, and then come back and talk to us about being thrilled.

While you are right that furloughs are better than mass layoffs, to say that anyone should be "thrilled" over the governor's cost cutting measures is callous and shows a real disconnect with your readers who work for the state.

While you are right that furloughs are better than mass layoffs, to say that anyone should be "thrilled" over the governor's cost cutting measures is callous and shows a real disconnect with your readers who work for the state.

i guess private citizens on layoff and government employed citizens on layoff feel the same pain!

the real issue is with the current and past US and state administrations allowing the economy to crater and then the lack of business and revenues causes industry and government agencies to have such massive revenue shortfalls, that one way of coping is to elect to layoff their staffs.

no one is thrilled with this.
'Bill', i commiserate with you.

as long as the government thinks that JOB CREATION is something just for talk and not real action, we are both (industry and unions) going to have to survive layoffs.

it is a good lesson that a poorer economy affects all the ships in it. you can see state after state grappling with this huge problem; California, PA, Maryland, the list goes on with each passing day.

we have to promise ourselves to only elect political representatives and office seekers who know how to INCREASE JOBS AND DRIVE JOB GROWTH.

anyone else will be a burden on our backs and lead to more job lossses and layoffs.

Government employees at all levels are all members of a highly privleged class; typically overpaid for the job they do, essentially immune from market forces and recipients of generous pensions that no longer exist in the private sector. AFSCME feels that shared sacrifice is something for others to do, not them.

I find Bill's comments enlightening. For years we have heard the propaganda from the Republican Party and Chamber of Commerce about Maryland's poor business climate versus Virginia. I find it somewhat amusing that Virginia now finds itself in the same dire budgetary condition as Maryland. What has all that special tax incentives and overbuilt housing communities really provided Va? It doesn't look like it provided any more relief from this recession. It is time for all to realize business needs to pay for the services provided.

Once again Jay is the voice of reason and moderation....except maybe he should have told O'Malley to take an even simpler approach.....Just stop spending what you don't have!!!

Are you kidding me? The state workers have already had to take furlough days before this latest cut. We were told that this was the only way not to cut jobs. Now they are cutting jobs. Not to mention the contractual employees who are told to be patient and wait to get hired on permanent. In the mean time they do not get any benefits at all. These employees in addition to not getting paid well, have to take five furlough days off without getting paid. Permanent employees in the same pay range can use leave or comp time to get paid for two of these days. I'm so thrilled!!!

Ask Rick Maese if he would have been "thrilled" by a furlough.

Ask Rick Maese if he would have been "thrilled" by a furlough.

Bill,
Always nice to hear the chattering from inside the bubble of safety that is state/federal employ. You certainly earned lots of sympathy from the no increases comment. God knows private sector employese have been given record increases throughout this recesssion.

Jay,
Surprised to hear a little blue dog growl in your blog. Careful you may get chastied by your editors for such right-wing utterings about the Sun's boy-gov

Working people didn't cause this financial mess which has caused so much pain for so many families and individuals.The people responsible are now working feverishly to create another bubble so the can enrich themselves at our expense.No one at Goldman Sachs are going to jail for their nefarious behavior instead their the first one's lined up at the troth.So working people should always feel angry that they are made to suffer for the greed of the few.

@ bill LOL, Seriously? did you just seriously just post that? You need to be fired ASAP... I have almost a dozen close friends out of work at the moment, several have lost their homes. EVERYONE of them would choice 2 weeks unpaid "vacation" to not having a job.... you need to think before you say stupid stuff...

I've been out of a job since April, with the prospects of finding something remotely similar looking really dim.

Bottom lne? At least (most) state workers will still have jobs.

It would be good to see our erstwhile legislators take the same medicine.

No one wants to see someone lose a job, but this is at least an attempt to keep the bulk of the workforce in place.

Jay, you're simply wrong this time. As a state employee by choice, I made an active decision to accept a lower wage than I could get in industry. I have been employed by the state for less than 2 years, and am now seeing my second furlough. The effect of this is to reduce my already-substandard salary by an additional 5%. I am incredulous that O'Malley can find no other immediate source of revenue than wage cuts.

I am also not a MD state employee, but a PA state employee. We would be very happy to hear being furloughed for a few days rather than 2,000-6,000 being let go completely once the budget is passed. I use to live in MD and I think O'Malley has done a better job with the situation there than Rendell has in PA. I wish Rendell would learn from O'Malley.

Mr. Hancock needs to be reminded that State Employees are also Maryland citizens. We have also felt the tax increases, the drop in property values, medical costs rise and take-home pay go flat. I'm not sure where you received your information but the State has also suffered layoffs during these tough economic times. According to O’Malley, he has eliminated 2,700 positions since taking office. In addition, State Employees endured furloughs and no pay increases while the counties were still increasing their employees’ pays and did not suffer furloughs last year. Most counties also pay their employees in comparable positions a larger salary. You say State Government is one of the biggest expenses but the biggest expense is education. From the FY2010 Budget, 81% of the General Fund Spending supports education, health and public safety. You can figure out the rest. Most State employees are just citizens who applied and accepted a job with the State. We are like all other citizens just trying to make ends meet on a limited income.

Bill welcome to the real world!!!

In the real world we don't get furloughs; we get laid off or lose our jobs altogether.

You should be thankful. If the unemployment rate is in excess of 9% nationally, can you tell me the unemployment rate among state and municipal workers? I guarantee you it's no where near 9%.

Believe me I understand what you're thinking, but in the grand scheme of things you're in much better shape than most of us.

Typical that state employees complain about increased workloads. Many unemployed would be grateful to have the opportunity to work...period. I have had interactions with state employees. Much of their workload is do to red tape created by other state employees. Many jobs simply should be pared and now is the time to do it; it is being done in the private sector.

I will not even discuss today the burden of excessive retirement costs that civil employees have courtesy of citizens who seldom ever get such a retirement.

Look: My sympathies go out to the state employees who will be laid off, just as they go out to the millions of other Americans who have lost their jobs. But state government cannot be immune to adjusting in a terrible recession when most other establishments are going through terrible retrenchment. As these things go, what O'Malley has done is not very drastic.

If construction, manufacturing, auto and other product sales down, then why does the state need the same levels of employment as it did in the "good" times? Three years ago, there were contractors filling the lobies of county and state offices to get permits for jobs and vehicles. Now that all of this has nearly stopped, what are the people that wee serving these needs doing? I can't see keeping them on at a huge cost if the work they were doing has dried up. If you can see a reason, then pitch in a bit more toward teh taxes, but leave mine alone!

We are currently experiencing furloughs in Georgia. We have also not seen any raises in 3 years. Positions have been cut and departments have been downsized. I can't be thankful about losing a portion of my income at a time when everything costs more. I can't explain to my children why we can't go on vacation and why we have to cut down on birthday party expenses, etc. Don't tell us we should be thankful for furloughs, at least if we were laid off from a corporation we could draw unemployment. As this stands, we have no recompense.

Ive been working for Local# 3, we have had furloughs or work sharing program for years, much better than a layoff and it does help others to make a living, we take off 10 weeks a year with no pay,check our program out.

Give me a break GA STATE EMPLOYEE. At least you aren't one of the over 10% of Georgians without a job.

I work for the private sector and have spent the last year working on "cost-cutting". I suspect that the 1000+ people who have lost their jobs at the company I work for would have much preferred a furlough.

But I suppose if you consider being fired without notice a fine opportunity for a "vacation" then they're better off than the poor state employees.

I challenge ANYONE to point a finger at an EFFICIENT government entity. There is no such thing.... If Sales go down in the private sectores, prices must go down to stay in business..... In Government, when the need for services go down, prices of the services GO UP! Think about it next time you vote for an incumbent!

The proposed furlough by Gov O’Malley only applies to State employees under the Executive Branch and not to employees of the Judiciary and Legislative Branches. So far we have not hear from their leadership if they are planning furloughs for their employees as a way to contribute in helping reduce the budgetary shortfall. Enjoy your two week unpaid vaction.

200 +/- state employees out of nearly 80,000 comes out to something like one quarter of one percent. If the state were required to run like an efficient public corporation more like seven or eight thousand would have had to lose their jobs. MOM is still not making the really tough decisions but continues to nibble around the edges. An across the board 5% reduction in spending would save 1.5 billion on a 32 billion budget. State employees have seen nothing yet, things can still get a lot worse.

What Martin O'Malley is doing today should have been done 2 years ago, instead of passing the largest tax increase in the history of Maryland when everyone could see a recession coming. Jay Hancock is 100% on point.

I get a little tired of people telling me how overpaid I am as a state employee. The reality is that I left at least $15-20K on the table that I can make in the private sector in order to work where I do for the state. I did it for the trade-off of a little less stress and not being expected to work 12-14 hour days, which turned out to be fantasy because I'm as stressed as ever, but now I should "appreciate" that I still have a gravy train of a job? Whatever.

As for the union, it's all bluster. The union has no power other than to deliver money/votes to incumbents/democrats, and after the "fair share" act that MOM signed into law blowing up AFSCME's bank account Moran only bothered to even say anything to keep up appearances. He IS thrilled with the furloughs because he'll still get the money he wouldn't have had the state laid off the 2,500 it was talking about.

Excellent article right on point. Perhaps "thrilled" was not the best choice of words, but certainly "thankful that there were no mass layoffs" is appropriate.

I don't understand why state employees feel some "entitlement" in times like these - when revenues are down, expenses must be reduced, and the largest expense the state has is its payroll.

@GA STATE EMPLOYEE - if you really think that a layoff and qualifying for unemployment is a better alternative than a furlough, you are wrong. Hang in there, this will pass with time. And it's OK to explain to your kids exactly why you have to stay home and cut expenses - the sooner they learn these lessons, the better off everyone will be. Deficit spending is one big reason the economy is where it is now.

Why do state employees bitch so much about their lot in life? I'm sorry that the some of them haven't gotten a COL adjustment lately. Neither have I and I don't work for any state or belong to any union. I'm just lucky that I have a job. I'd much rather have a job at a little less money then no job and no money. Grow up you winners!! Maybe look at your situation as a half full glass instead of one half empty!

AFSCME doesn't really care about state employees because it is trying to force all state employees who they allegedly represent in collective bargaining to start paying service fees next year. Democrats helped them get over on the employees by passing the legislation.

Also, some of your comments about state employees and state employment don't show any understanding. The private sector had the same opportunity to find employment within government the same way city, county, state, and federal employees did. Private sector workers made the choice to work where their futures were not as secure. Now city and state employment is just like the private sector with lower starting salaries, salary decreases, lay offs, less benefits, hiring freezes, no 401k matches, etc. This has been happening for several years. The private sector might think that state employees are whining but this is a shock to the system for most employees who have put in a lot of years and work serving the citizens of MD and expected a better future for themselves and their families.

But . . . slots!

How come the fat cats on Wall Street aren't made to suffer for all the pain they've caused?It's always the same...working people end up paying for their insatiable greed.

I am a State of MD employee - And Jay, you're right on with your comments... MD state Govt is bloated in many areas and State employees cannot remain immune from the pain of the economic downturn - But more important are the certain future deficits that will result in more pain to employees. State Legilators & the O'Malley Administration are continuing to fail in addressing the long term deficit we face - - in the hopes of a fantasy strong recovery in a year or two. the State needs to determine what programs/costs should be cut and cut them up front NOW to stop this death by a thousand cuts from continuing...

I'm a state employee from Michigan. Furlough days are survivable, but the notion of someone telling you that you're worthless and you should be happy just to have a job is insulting and should be beneath anyone with ethical morals.
My department was downsized by half (that's a 50% unemployment rate--if you're keeping track), with nearly the same work load--which of course now takes twice as long to complete.
Who (outside of me) suffers for that? The citizens that depend on my work. Who benefits from it? The politicians and lobbyist, and special interests groups that get to sit back and chukle at how they got the news media to set the commoners at each others' throats by feeding them fodder that will sell newspapers.
Don't pay attention to the job I'm doing, or to the favors I'm doing for the groups that contribute to my campaign fund. Look at the priviledged state worker, he's over paid and never pays for health insureance and when he retires he'll be a millionare-all on your dime....except that it's not true.
The majority of skilled state workers take jobs that pay less (sometimes significally less) than private sector jobs. But they take them because they traditionally are more stabile and traditionally at least, have a higher level of benefits. However, that higher level of benefits stopped being true years ago, and now the stability is gone as well. And the retirement programs avaliable for over ten years here have all been 401K programs, just like every other industry.
I'm happy to have a job, just like the folks that haven't yet lost their manufacturing jobs are happy. But if their boss walked up to them one day and said, "Hey, why don't you take off friday--because I'm not going to pay you"--I wouldn't tell them to shut up and take it because they're lucky to have a job.
What's wrong with us that instead of looking with compassion on our brothers, we take the bait and point fingers at the scape goats the media offer up to us. We buy into this cover up of the gross mismanagement and cronyism that seems to have pervaded our political system.
Maybe it's always been this way....but does that mean it always has to be?

Jay,

I'll tell you what. Why don't we all submit a petition to Baltimore Sun to fire you or give you 10 days of furlough. After all, it would be a cost-cutting measure in sync with what is going on around all news-media outlets.

Then I want you to start a blog and tell us all about how its a wonderful thing to be laid off or furloughed. How wonderful it is when so many of us are already struggling to pay our mortgages and bills. How wonderful it is to be paid less than what you were hired for.

Talk about being an insensative prick.

It's amazing to see the disparity here between government workers and non-government workers. In my original post I was not complaining about my position, or having to do more work, or not getting a raise, but I was trying to explain that it isn't all roses being a state employee either during this time.

There seems to be this idea that government workers are all lollygags, and that we just run around and smell the flowers all day. I work as hard as I did in the private sector, and I take my job just as seriously. I don't take what I have for granted at all. Of course I am glad to have a job, and I feel for people that have lost their jobs. I've worked in the private sector before, and was laid off during the last recession. It stunk, and I spent months looking for a job. When I had the opportunity to get a state position, I took a 30% cut in pay knowing that even though my pay would be lower, my job would typically be more secure in a downturn. I made that choice, just like others could have. Why is it more secure? Because no matter what the economy does, people still need state services. People still need the DMV, they still need their kids taught in public school, and they still need all the other services that people need when the economy is booming. If you work in consulting like I did, or manufacturing the demand is less during a recession, and that is why jobs are cut. The same cannot be said about state services.

How many complaints from people would there be if the dmv was closed 4 days a week because they cut their workforce, or your child's class now have 50 kids in it instead of 20 because they let go teachers, or they started releasing a significant amount of dangerous felons because they were going to start closing jails to save money. These are just random examples, but the point I am trying to get across is that the need for state services stays constant no matter what the economy does.

I am not "b**ching" about my lot in life. I enjoy coming to work everyday which a lot of people cannot say. I just didn't appreciate the fact that Mr. Hancock seems to think that if I worked for MD, I would should thrilled to take a pay cut. Why doesn't Mr. Hancock ask how thrilled the PA state employees have enjoyed their pay cuts over the past two month since the gov't can not come together and create a budget for the next year.

Thrilled may be a strong word. Furloughs are preferable to lay offs. Both are unattractive to anyone just trying to make ends meet. That doesn’t matter if you are in private industry or government. Having been both, I think the contempt some show for state employees is missed placed. No one deserves to worry about how they are going to feed or clothe their kids.

What is most disturbing, though, are the callous moves like this INSURANCE COMMISSIONER TYLER PROMOTES KAREN STAKEM HORNIG
TO DEPUTY INSURANCE COMMISSIONER http://www.mdinsurance.state.md.us/sa/documents/DeputyCommPromotion-Hornig08-09.pdf. In the midst of state furloughs and lay offs, this guy creates a new top level position (there is deputy and has only EVER been one in the entire history of the agnecy. Why create a second one now???) while the rest of the staff struggles with lay offs and furloughs. And, if the law was followed, the Deuputy is appointed with the consent of the Gov meaning in the same week he announces cuts the Gov approves this promotion -in an agency that has seen other promotions frozen. It is demeaning to the professionals who work there and a bad look for MD.

Jay,

You are a simpleton who hasn't done his homework. You have absolutely no understanding of how the State budget operates. Instead of learning the process you are here putting fuel on fire by insulting the dignity of State workers whom mind you serve the citizens of Maryland. Were it not for us govt. employees the State of Maryland would not be running.

You want to write an article? Do yourself a favor and look into how fiscal budget is divided up and where the largest funding sources go to.

You want talk about cost-saving measures? Maybe its time the State of Maryland and "MOM" stop senseless projects for which they can't even pay for out of the current Fiscal Year.

The State has always operated their network of projects based on future monies - that is why FY10 keeps being brought up. Maybe its time we begin working within our bounds as opposed to creating "Inter-country connector anyone?" projects which will eat further into the State economy.

Now you want to victimize the private industry? Do you realize how much of the budget is spent paying private companies who contract with the State for various projects? Instead of furloughing a guy who makes 50-60k why not be smart in the procurement process by holding private companies accountable who over-bill the State for various projects anyways? The cost savings alone range in the millions - surely that’s much better than taking $1,000 from a poor sap who can't even pay his mortgage.

Jay, I want you to get that head out of a hole and actually research before you write an asinine article such as this one.

"it not for us govt. employees the State of Maryland would not be running."

LOL John more like the stae runs inspite of them. I noticed you didn't actaully suggest any projects to that could be cut? You also didn't mention how many agencies work with state or what they are paid. You also didn't provide anything to support your claim cost savings in the millions is possible by correcting any over billing. In fact you never actually even backed the claim of over billing although I wouldn't doubt it exists. I guess that would be an example of those state employees keeping the state running.

Maybe you should try following you own advice ann then come back and back up your claims. Right now it sounds like you are reading talking points from the union.

I am a State employee and a registered nurse. I make $25,000 less than I could and have made in the private sector. My husband was laid off for ten months so I know the pain from both ends. I also know that Govwernor O'Malley has done a horrible job (depsite the Baltimore Sun protecting him including Jay) and has cut numerous health programs that poor, needy families need. I am required to take nine days off without pay. I am in the process of getting a second job to pay my mortgage and bills so I hate to disagree with you, Jay but the Governor could have cut many other areas that he has left alone such as tax loopholes and not buying three new helicpoters in such a poor financial year. The Governor is to blame for all of our woes. People, take it from me, Governor O'Malley has done a horrible job as Governor. It's time to replace him with anyone. Because anyone (even my elderly grandmother0 could do a better job than he has.

Ravensfan,

Agencies aren't "paid." A multitude of agencies can exist in a network. Each network is dedicated a 'pot' of money. Such monies more often than not come from generated revenue sources of those respective agencies. This pot of money is then shared by those that fall under the umbrella.

With me so far?

Some part of the pot is made of grants (State & Fed) while a smaller portion still "may" be from tax revenue. However, the latter portion varies from umbrella to umbrella and agency to agency.

Now that you have a basic understanding of how the agency finances operate let me educate you on how projects work.

Within every agency there is a capital budget dedicated to system upgrades and overall expansion and improvement. This budget is different than the operating budget dedicated solely for managing general operations. The projects in the capital budget are planned well in advance in which RFP's are written and submitted to a website on which private organizations can bid on. Based on the type of bid the State conducts oral interviews and finally makes an evaluation judgment whereby granting private entities a contract to perform certain work. Most such projects if not all such projects are operated by private entities with oversight of the State. Think of it as outsourcing.

I won't name specifics because that would divulge confidential information. Most private entities that contract with the State either underbid in order to win the contract and then through various change order requests make-up the short-fall in their profit; or, render services for which the State has no substitute therefore said price is often non-negotiable.

What is true is that a sizable portion of these projects are not well thought-out and so the millions spent on any given project may be saved with better requirements gathering and analysis.

As for the assertion that somehow I am reading union notes - grow a brain. Not all State employees fall under unions and I certainly do not - mostly blue-collar workers do.

Poor little ole robingirl.... You have been sacrificing yourself by working for $25G less than in the private sector, and now your husband is laid off from that same private sector!!! Read what you have written!! Don't take a second job, just go to the private sector and make that extra $25G... that way, one less state employee will not have to be given an unpaid vacation, your income will increase without having to take a second job, you will pay more taxes to help cover the costs of another state employee.... Looks like a plan to me!

In another light.... lets say the Gov lays off ...two mower operators... You know, the ones that mow along the highways... lay off two per county...then you save the cost of the operator, his insurance, his other benifits.. You save the cost of fuel for the machine and its maintance costs!.... BIG savings and you have only laid off two per county.... Oh yes.. since there will not be as much maintance needed, you could lay off a machine maintance worker too...AND since there will be fewer people to get hurt, the Gov could lay off a Registered Nurse or two as well....

Help everybody, Go get a job in the private sector.

Yes, I'm a state employee. And I have to wonder where all these expert commentors are getting their information. Do you really believe 38% of the average of the last three years' actual pay is such a great pension? With no match to the 401(k) plan for 3 years? Increased health insurance premiums not offset by COLAS or step increases? Remember, only the employees in the Executive Branch are graced with furloughs - those in the Legislative and Judical branches are exempt. So stop balancing the budget on the backs of those few state employees who ensure that you receive your food stamps, cash and medical assistance, oversee public safety, educate your children, etc. Talk to your legislators who get a per diem allotment to pay their living expenses during the 90 days they are actually working during the General Assembly. And the judges and aids who are intrepreting the laws allowing for budget cuts.

Jim said "Government employees at all levels are all members of a highly privleged class; typically overpaid for the job they do..." Actually, they get paid less than their industry and federal counterparts. Most people forget that there are people on the state's payroll who are funded by federal grants. Furlough and layoffs won't save any money on them and in fact could reduce money as the state is paid an overhead fee for each person. That fee will be reduced because of furloughs.

Doug - Those of us in the private sector are "up to here" with the perpetual whining from the public sector about their alleged wage "sacrifices" to serve the populace. If you aren't being paid what you're worth, come on out to the real world although I doubt you'll find many willing to let you work your 37.5 hour week with a plethora of holidays and a defined benefit pension.

hey Jay you better get a life. Who in the hell is thrilled about getting a $5,000 reduction in there salary. My wife has worked hard to advance herself to get where she is and that is a horrible statement on your part.How about you giving up 10 days of your salary.

"The union is 'incredibly disappointed' that O'Malley will furlough lay off a couple hundred employees and furlough 70,000 others for a few days,

Can you please be exact in your language? "A few days" is only applicable to those state workers that make less than $40,000. If one makes, $40,000+, it's 5 days; $50,000-$100,000, 9 days; $100,000 or more, 10 days. Does the 9 day furlough for those making 50-100,000 seem fair to you? Any furlough should be based on percentage of salary to be equitable.

I would have been "THRILLED" to be furloughed for a couple weeks. As someone who worked on Wall Street, not all employees are "fat cats". Lost my job due to downsizing 11 months ago. To GA STATE EMPLOYEE-sorry that you have to cancel that vacation to Disneyword and invite only 5 kids instead of 10 to a Chucky Cheese birthday party. My oldest had been taking about having a sweet sixteen birtday party for a year. Instead she received a card, made off the computer, along with a picture of sunglasses she asked for, with a note that says when I get back into the workforce you will get your birthday present.

The private sector is no better. I've worked at companies who cut hours, benefits, and fired people, the second the profit margin even hinted at going down, even just slightly. Of course the top managers got to keep their jobs, the poor fools who were left faced even more pressure to produce or get fired.

Sorry but I agree with Jay on this one!

I fly up to Michigan all the time and that state is falling apart. Layoffs and furloughs left and right. Now Maryland is having shortfalls just like every other state. People in the private sector taking paycuts (in Michigan some up to 20%).

Now what does tick me off is Dixon and other members vote to give themsevles raises but yet furlough all the state regular employees so they take a pay cut (in essence). Personally I think pay raises for state and elected officials should be put on the voting ballots with each election and the voters decide if they will give a raise because Dixon and her pals obviously are acting with the same inconsideration and irresponsibility as Corporate America.

It would be a nice gesture if our well-paid legislators could take a pay cut of 5%, at least. Wouldn't hurt their lifestyles.

Too bad we can't all be CEOs and get mega-bonuses on top of huge salaries.

Point taken, Jay. But may I offer a counterpoint? I hear a lot of "it could be a lot worse" coming from the state and from my coworkers. In principle, I agree. The attitude or concept that "it could be a lot worse" is alternatively trotted out as an excuse for not improving planning for inevitable budgetary rainy days, or for increasing efficiency during good times.

The simple fact is that we are NOT California, but neither are we other states who have taken less of a hit during the downturn due to better planning.

Hey Bob w , you know all you people in the private sector that are complaining about state or federal workers, better get a life. It just happens to be a career choice that everybody had to make.In my case for one of only times i took any advice from my mother since we all seemed to know what was best for us and nobody wanted to listen to anything our parents wanted to say. I went down to the federal building and took a federal test for employment, and now 37 years later i am retired getting over 74 percent of my salary as pension. Everybody had the same chioce as myself and if you chose to be employeed in some so called glamerous private sector job hobnobing with the bosses at cocktail parties then please just shut up about anybody that took a safe secure job that got 26 vacation days 13 sick days no layoffs and a great pension.

HOWARD - State Employees salaries are "much" lower than the private sector. Our benefits are what makes the difference. We take lower salaries to get better benefits when we retire. We takle a little now to be able to survive later. Apparently you took a higher salary and failed to prepare for the future. Bottom line - O'Malley has to stop "pandering" to illegals and his big donors and stop spending money that doesn't exist. Maryland has always been mostly a fiscally sound state until O'Malley created over 10,000 (most of which are in Annapolis) ! !

To Deborah - You ask " Do you really believe 38% of the average of the last three years' actual pay is such a great pension?"

Yes, I do. If you don't think that's so hot, see what kind of pensions are being offered in the private sector nowadays. Defined benefit plans are, for the most part, long gone, like the dinosaurs.

While I still have the remnants of a defined benefit plan, after 41 years of working guess how much I get? 75%? 60%? 50%? 38%? Try again. How 'bout 30% of my last 3 years average salary! That's reality in the private sector. So it's hard to find any sympathy for someone who only gets 38% of their final salary.

BTW, you failed to say how many years were needed before that benefit was obtained. I bet it's a lot less than 41 years, like maybe 30???

Jay,

Regardless of whether the previous 2700 layoffs were actual layoffs or just eliminating vacancies, the fact is that the State Government workforce has been and continues to be reduced, leaving the remaining employees to absorb the job duties. The local aid to the counties was cut because the State recognized that while the State employees were taking furloughs and not recieving pay increases, every county was still able to provide raises to their employees and none had been given furloughs last year.

People will suggest cuts in areas that do not affect them. State employees have every justification to be upset with the latest round of cuts. If the education budget was cut, the teachers would be out there protesting. The parents would also be protesting since many parents expect the schools to 'watch' their children during the day. Yes, to some this is no more than a babysitter. The remarks can go the other way too, 'If you don't like your job, find a new one!'.

All that being said, here are some things to think about. Why would the elected officals suggest that someone apply for financial aid for college that would be paid for by the 'State' (taxpayers), if after completion, you agree to work for the State for a set number of years. We're reducing the government workforce. Where are these jobs that we're promising?

Why is it that if you are incarcerated for a crime and after 'serving your time' you can then apply for and receive food stamps, medical assistance, cash assistance, etc.? Make these people get real jobs. There's no incentive because the punishment for criminal activity is the rewards just mentioned.

Why is it that a person on welfare is given $1500/month allowance for Section 8 housing? I'm sure we could find them somewhere to live for less than $1500/month. And that's in addition to the food stamps, medical assistance, etc. that most receive.

Seems to me that we could cut in those areas as well. But hey, we must be careful because elections will be coming up soon. The number of State employees is fewer than the number of citizens and we need their votes. So, the State employees always seem to take the cuts. I guess we forgot about the utility bill and the slots. People have very short memories.

Please do your homework the next time you put a stupid blog up. State Employess are the lowest paid employees. Yes a furlough is better than not having a job. But, why should a employee who makes $41,000 get eight furlough days and a employee who makes $99.000 get nine. Those numbers just don't add up. One more day for an extra $50,000. It don't take a accountant to know this is crazy. Do your homework people before you comment.

Please do your homework the next time you put a stupid blog up. State Employess are the lowest paid employees. Yes a furlough is better than not having a job. But, why should a employee who makes $41,000 get eight furlough days and a employee who makes $99.000 get nine. Those numbers just don't add up. One more day for an extra $50,000. It don't take a accountant to know this is crazy. Do your homework people before you comment.We have not seen a pay increase and we just got a furlough. The City and Federal Governments did not get furlough. The state protects the ones who make $50,000 and up.

Please do your homework the next time you put a stupid blog up. State Employess are the lowest paid employees. Yes a furlough is better than not having a job. But, why should a employee who makes $41,000 get eight furlough days and a employee who makes $99.000 get nine. Those numbers just don't add up. One more day for an extra $50,000. It does not take a accountant to know this is crazy. Do your homework people before you comment.We have not seen a pay increase and we just got a furlough. The City and Federal Governments did not get furlough days. I will never vote Democrat again.

I love your comment about the banks laying off. It's a shame considering that thier greed was a big part of the reason we are in this mess.
It seems that they are going back to the same old practice.
Bonuses for everyone.

Seems like it was too much to hope that people could tone down the venom, to maybe realize they were being played, and used, by those elected to serve them. For those being played, it doesn't matter how much an state employee makes--it's always more than they're worth--so it's obvious who's to blame for all the taxes you pay. And for those being used as pawns in this game, you spend so much time defending your right to exist that you've no energy left to question what's really happening. I wonder who wins when we spend all our energy fighting each other.