Children of all ages
July 7th, 2009 by David ShapiroA calliope was all that was needed to complete the circus atmosphere at the negotiations yesterday between the state and four public worker unions.
Gov. Linda Lingle is refusing to talk until the unions present a formal counter to her furlough plan that was struck down in court, and her representative left the meeting when the unions had nothing on the record to offer.
The unions want to just informally "talk story," but only at a formal meeting before a federal mediator that turned into a political dog and pony show when the the four county mayors paraded as good politicians who give the employees what they want.
It's obvious that the sides are still more interested in posturing and setting each other up to look bad than doing the hard bargaining necessary to reach a fair compromise.
Senate President Colleen Hanabusa last week floated the idea of a 5 percent across-the-board pay cut to replace Lingle's furloughs that amount to 14 percent cuts.
That sounds like a good place to start serious talks if the unions are being truthful that employees are willing to accept sacrifices in recognition of the state's worsening budget crisis.
Backing Lingle into a corner in which she fires the nuclear option of massive layoffs to balance the budget would be horribly destructive to employees and the state.
July 7th, 2009 at 4:18 am
Maybe she's a legend in her own mind, but Colleen's looking good; she's looking awful good. Y' might say even Gubernatorial good.
July 7th, 2009 at 5:04 am
Of course the unions are powerful because they are involuntary, compulsory organizations that collect millions and funnel them to the Democrat politicians. Of course the Democrats thru electoral fraud and intimidation have ruled in the totalitarian fashion for 50 years.
Of course all of the judges in Hawaii are the Democrat party hacks appointed by the jailed criminal and union leader Mr. Rodriguez.
Of course all media sources in Hawaii are staffed by the Democrat party regulars parroting Democrat party talking points on a daily basis.
Of course UH is a subsidiary of the DNC and it's ridiculously named Professional Assembly is a Democrat party caucus.
Obviously, people of Hawaii thought that by electing a single Republican we may overcome the monopoly of power and, perhaps, fix some of the problems.
Gov. Lingle will fail in her "negotiations" and we will see rise in taxes to accomodate the hordes of parasitic Democrats that "work for us".
Hawaii needs revolutionary change but untill people are mad enough to take law into their own hands the business as usual will continue.
July 7th, 2009 at 6:59 am
Turk needs glasses.
July 7th, 2009 at 7:13 am
Hanabusa's takes a 36% payraise for her and her Senate Cronies and now comes up with a 5% across the board pay cuts? How much does that save? Put everything on the table now, senority rights, work rules, vacation, holidays and sick leave. Time to revamp the system and prepare it for future.
July 7th, 2009 at 7:24 am
Maybe I'm missing something here?
Lingle was advised her furlough plan was unconstitutional, but she wasted a lot of time sticking with that "strategy" - not because it made legal sense, but because it provided political cover for her.
Now her representative meets with the unions and demands THEY come up with a plan to balance the state's budget?
Where is HER proposal? Does she even have a Plan B?
The woman is in WAY over her head, not understanding the economics, but posturing a la Arnold Schwartzennegger. Her affection for Sarah Palin makes more sense each day. Lingle is grossly incompetent and flailing.
And, no, UHPA is not part of the Democratic Machine. JN Musto endorsed Lingle TWICE! But when Lingle says the public sector unions haven't submitted any contract proposals, and UHPA has submitted THREE, he is going to stand up to the Governor.
While I hate to say anything good about Hanabusa, she is definitely looking like a calm voice of reason and moderation compared to Lingle.
Lingle appears more interested in running against the unions than in solving our budget crisis.
July 7th, 2009 at 7:42 am
Kolea, the court didn't say furloughs were unconstitutional per se, just that the governor can't unilaterally impose them without collective bargaining. As far as I know, the furloughs are still on the table as the state's offer in negotiations and Lingle wants the unions to offer their formal counter-proposal.
July 7th, 2009 at 8:29 am
I think that there's a second court challenge to Lingle's alternative plan to lay off employees. She's correct in waiting until the decision comes down to hold back on putting it on the table formally.
As far as I can tell, the unions have no other offers other than no pay raises, no increases in employee contributions to medical & pension plans, neither increases nor cutbacks in sick leave, family leave, vacation credits & retirement benefits, and no layoffs or furloughs. In other words, keep everything just as it is and then raise taxes next session to get out of debt.
Makes sense to me - assuming that I were a state employee.
July 7th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Like most of the people, I have no use for any government programs. What we do see are teachers who are not willing or able to teach, agencies doing work that should be done by the private sector or charitable organizations - all of it goldplated with benefit packages that boggle the mind.
In the meantime the poverty rate have not changed in 60 years, homelesness is pervasive, school scores are in the dumper etc.
Let us use this opportunity to shrink the size of the government, to roll back astronomical increases in taxes and spending that were done during the "good times".
Government running out of funds is an indication that it provides too many services to begin with.
Since Gov. Palin's name came up in Kolea's post I suggest that the Democrats should implement the same succesful strategy employed with Mrs. Palin: Threaten to rape her (just like DNC surrogate David Letterman did) and she will surely resign.
Kolea and other DNC surrogates will stop at nothing to perpetuate the Machine including bancrupting Hawaii.
July 8th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Fluffy, if you have no use for government programs, you may want to write to your friendly congressional rep and urge him/her to abolish Medicare, Medicaid, social security, federal highways, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, etc.
And, at the same time, contact your state legislators and councilmember and ask them to abolish unemployment insurance, TDI, HIOSH, state parks and roads, the airport, stadium, schools, police, fire, water safety officers, wastewaster treatment operators, harbors, refuse collection, etc.
You have no use for any of these programs? You don't by chance live in a cave, do you?