Category Archives: Budget Impasse
Rendell and the Furloughs
Sounds like a really, really, really bad college band, doesn’t it? Anyway, I don’t want to brag, but I told you so. According to a story on WHTM: The state Supreme Court said Monday it agreed with state workers’ unions … Continue reading
Filed under Budget Impasse
Let’s Ease Up On Ed Rendell
Yes. You read that correctly. Long-time readers know what I’m about to say. Everyone else gets an explanation after the break.
Filed under Budget Impasse
Payday is Not The End
As you’ve probably already heard by now, those of us on the 8/7 pay cycle received our full pay (along with back pay) this past Friday. With a few exceptions, everybody on the alternate cycle will be paid this coming … Continue reading
Filed under Budget Impasse
We’re On Our Way
Senate Bill 850, “An Act to provide from the General Fund for the expenses of (the state)”, is on its way to the governor. Three legislators voted against the bill — Representatives Steve Santarsiero, Dennis O’Brien, and Paul Drucker. Rumors … Continue reading
Filed under Budget Impasse
The Meeting
Words can not describe my disappointment at today’s events. First, let me say that a stopgap budget, or any measure passed to resume our pay, is bittersweet. True, we’ll technically be getting paychecks again. And for a lot of state … Continue reading
Filed under Budget Impasse
Yesterday’s Capitol Protest: Pictures & Video
Approximately 3,000 people (guess) turned out to protest the budget impasse — and specifically, how it has effectively cut 100% of funding to 100% of state agencies and programs — yesterday afternoon on the steps of the Capitol building in … Continue reading
Filed under Budget Impasse
Sample Creditor Letter
Any state employee who is affected by the impasse (which, basically, means all of us) should consider reaching out to his or her creditors to let them know what’s going on. Even with 10 weeks’ worth of spending money in … Continue reading
Filed under Budget Impasse
The Cost of FLSA Violations = $3 Million Per Day
That’s right — $3,000,000. PER DAY. Thanks to Robin over at Nana’s House for catching this one. Using that number, Pennsylvania taxpayers are already on the hook for $78 million in liquidated damages. That’s an average of $90 million for … Continue reading
Filed under Budget Impasse
Legislative Staffers Are Still Being Paid
It appears that our government may be guilty of more than one violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. I’ve already demonstrated that government employees in any capacity are covered by the FLSA. And part of the FLSA states that … Continue reading
Filed under Budget Impasse
OA’s Response to the US Dept of Labor
Thanks to John Micek over at Capitol Ideas for obtaining and publishing OA’s response to the Department of Labor’s inquiry. As stated previously, Pennsylvania is now the subject of a federal investigation into federal labor law violations. The Department of … Continue reading
Filed under Budget Impasse