CapitolFax.com - Latest Comments in Now what?

Re: Now what?

jimbo — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:37:09 -0000

I don't know who Cassandra is talking to, but every state employee I talk to is worried about layoffs.
Cassandra, take Rich's advice & spend some time at a non-profit like a lot of state employees do on their own free time.

Re: Now what?

Arthur Andersen — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:22:41 -0000

AA has just figured it out-Cassandra is Filan.

How have we missed it all this time.

Re: Now what?

Anonymous45 — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:10:05 -0000

I've had enough of Cassandra's inane musings to last a lifetime...I guess she knows it all because you just can't educate her on any issue she blogs about...

Re: Now what?

Princess — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:43:34 -0000

The two times, Cassandra, a governor warned he would lay people off, they did just that. Ryan tossed out large numbers of us and Rod tossed out HPA people for months.

When a governor tells us he's gonna have to pitch some of us out we don't take him lightly as neither of the last two governors were joking.

To serve your giggling friends right, I'd say I hope whoever they are are the first of the bunch to go, but hey, that would be mean of me.

Re: Now what?

He Makes Ryan Look Like a Sain — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:40:37 -0000

Cassandra,

I am sorry but you are WAY out of touch with state workers. The people I know that have been there for 25 years are scared to death. They are not laughing about this at all. THere is not a lot of jobs around Springfield if people lose their jobs.

This is no B.S, it is serious and EVERY state worker knows it. What they are most angry about is they are being used as pawns in this whole budget fiasco. The Legisltors the could give a rats behind about them.

Re: Now what?

Cassandra — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:29:36 -0000

They weren't laughing because they think layoffs are funny. They were laughing because they go through this every year and then nothing happens.
People who have worked for the state for a while have a pretty good sense of when to get worried.
They aren't.

Now, before I get misunderstood, let me point out that if Quinn can bring in a budget that does not require layoffs or furloughs, I am fine by that. Sin taxes, accounting maneuvers, pension obligation notes, other borrowing, closing corporate loophoes, whatever. I'm objecting to a regressive income tax increase in the middle of a recession--not how he gets there.

Re: Now what?

Princess — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:07:23 -0000

Okay, I might be twisting things as there is so much out there, but I would have sworn I either read or heard Quinn say that the pension notes would help with some of the cuts to social services--take it up to 70% of last years funding.

But that would still mean cuts just not as drastic and with thoughts of a tax increase on the horizon perhaps thoughts that by the time it's all said and done full or near full funding over the year? Am I making this up? I know I'm getting confused and frustrated with all the ideas floating around.

Re: Now what?

Six Degrees of Separation — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:58:21 -0000

Anon 2:29: That broadband line sure would be nice to haul my 120,000 bushels of grain to the elevator. I'm all in favor of rural broadband (would save me from paying Verizon for its pokey wireless internet) but our rail, road and air networks are infinitely vital to our way of life. Make these forms of transport more green - don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Re: Now what?

Secret Square — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:37:35 -0000

And I sure as heck am not laughing at the possibility of being laid off, or giving up a big chunk of my pay.

I got laid off once, from a private sector job, with only 2 hours notice and no chance to say goodbye to people I'd known longer than I'd known my husband and child. It took me several years to get back the financial ground I lost. Whoever Cassandra's been talking to, it sure ain't me.

Re: Now what?

Anonymous — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:29:57 -0000

There's plenty of money in the capital bill to fix the budget, rather than waste it on 20th century infrastructure investments that created our current economic and environmental messes.

We need to fix our problems using 21st telecommuting technology, which means a one time investment in fiber optic broadband links, gradually connecting every home and lasting over 100 years for far less cost than our roads, which just keep us addicted to imported oil and put us further in debt.

Isn't the definition of insanity to keep doing the same thing and expect different results? Are we insane?

Re: Now what?

Secret Square — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:17:14 -0000

"Has there been any talk of 'shared sacrifice' within the legislative staff?"

At least among the legislative support agencies (LIS, LRB, COGFA, JCAR, etc.) there sure was. We heard that our budgets were in line to be slashed by as much as 25 percent.

Re: Now what?

Narcoleptic — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:04:42 -0000

--Had Enough--

Not to be argumentative, but isn't "Do the job that you are paid to do" just what they all maintain they've done when they go home?

Imagine a few pieces . . .

*Sen. Murphy oversaw the prosecution and impeachment of Blago, opposed higher taxes, and refused to support more Blagojevich budget shenanigans;

*Rep. Bost fought against Blagojevich corruption and Quinn taxes but still voted to help create jobs and protect sportsmen;

*Rep. Phelps opposed higher taxes but voted for working people by supporting a capital bill;

*Rep. Acevedo voted to restore confidence in government, create jobs and protect the vulnerable;

*Sen. Brady bucked tax and spend Democrats, voted to put Blago where he belongs, but still helped get funding for I-55 improvements in and around Bloomington;

*Jack Franks took on Blagojevich, fought against higher taxes, and ushered in real ethics reform;

*Sen. Hendon took the hard votes to get the state budget in line but still managed to provide essential services to those who need them most;

You can toss a name in one of these (either party) and it won't make much difference because as most of us know it's all in how you see it and how the legislator's hometown constituency is led to see it come November.

Sorry, "throw the bums out" is a fruitless rant. There ain't no bums. Or haven't you learned that yet?

Re: Now what?

Confused — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:43:14 -0000

I have spoken to several other people in the social service field today who are under the impression that there will be NO cuts made to social services now. From what I could tell, there will still be cuts, just not as deep?

Bill, I agree with you. I'm tired of being a pawn year after year in their pol games. It isn't fair to me to make me wonder where I will be tomorrow and it isn't fair to my clients that already have mental illnesses without all of this stress.

Re: Now what?

These are my thoughts — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:37:35 -0000

Bill, I don't know about the other agencies, but I know at mine we are required to take vacation time for any rallies.

Re: Now what?

Bill — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:31:03 -0000

I am disturbed that those of us working for not for profit social service agencies were mobilized by Gov Quinn because we were told our jobs were at stake. Now he seems to agree with the Republicans and some Democrats that the agencies can spend money as they always have and the budget that passed the GA will not be consdiered a full year budget.

I will go to no more rallys, I will write no more letters to members of the GA. I am done with Governor Quinn's games of using people in need of pbulic assisstance as props for the tax increase. Am I glad I will likely have a job and be able to continue to provide services to the community, without question. But we did not have to go through all of this drama to get to this point, which is actually right where we started. For all of our phone calls, marching around, as far as I can tell we did not change one vote.

Re: Now what?

Anon — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:23:22 -0000

lincolnlover - Thursday, Jun 25, 09 @ 1:03 pm:

"You must be talking to legislative aides because they are the only ones who arenâ€™t going to get laid off. Try talking to some of the rank and file: you wonâ€™t here any laughter."
I am curious: has there been any talk at all of "shared sacrifice" within the legislative staff? How about universities or the judiciary? All of those are state employees...

Re: Now what?

fed up — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:23:07 -0000

It looks like all the fatties marching did their job. Quinn says he is going to cut then he isnt going to cut. He is clueless maybe Mike Madigans spokesman could tell him what to do now because he is sure out of his depth. quinn is good at going to funerals not much else. At least Blago made the news fun to watch with crazy qoutes or hiding behind cripples Quinn is boring and incompetent.

Re: Now what?

Had enough — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:10:31 -0000

Maybe we should stop the rallys for human services and debating "tax increase vs. no tax increase" because this is getting us no where. Maybe every citizen in Illinois needs to take a stand and tell their state senator and rep. "We are not going to vote for you again." Stop the politics, stop taking off for fund raisers or Turkey while the state is crumbling, stop trying to position yourself for your next campaign - because we the citizens of Illinois will never elect you again. Do the job that you are paid to do and then go home. Face it folks, we can't do any worse with the next group that goes to Springfield (oops Chicago) than what we've got now.

Re: Now what?

lincolnlover — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:03:43 -0000

Cassandra - You must be talking to legislative aides because they are the only ones who aren't going to get laid off. Try talking to some of the rank and file: you won't here any laughter. As far as travel goes, at our agency, there hasn't been a travel budget for 5 years. When I have to go anywhere, I drive my own vehicle and I am not reimbursed. I think it is time you said "Thank you" to the employees of this state. They have kept you from having a tax increase for many years. Now its time to pay the piper!

Re: Now what?

These are my thoughts — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:45:21 -0000

==And letâ€™s face it, a lot of them need to direct their energies towards improving the the quality of their services instead of trying to hit up taxpayers for more, more, more.
They are starting to look as greedy as the pols.==

What world are you living in? I served in the military and was promoted to sergeant in the nearly half the time most soldiers are, then I graduated Cum Laude after going to school full time and working nearly fulltime, and now I've been in the social services for nearly 4 years, but I still make less money than the average 22 year old makes straight out of college. I can't even afford to consider buying a condo on my budget. But I love what I do and wouldn't want to do anything else. I wake up every morning with a clear purpose. It's been very good to me. And if only you knew the good I've done for others you'd be as concerned as the rest of us. Most non-profits are operating on budgets so low already that any cuts no matter how small can have serious impacts. And, I'm not asking for more, I'm asking for at least enough to continue doing what I'm already doing. I don't care how they do it, but it just needs to happen. And given our economy, it's pretty clear this is a very real threat.

Re: Now what?

Downstate weed chewing hick — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:44:18 -0000

I am reminded of that great line from JibJab, "He has more waffles than a house of pancakes."

Re: Now what?

Macbeth — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:24:39 -0000

===
My friends in state government continue to travel regularly and when I asked recently about layoffs, they laughed.
====

No Illinois state employee is going to laugh when layoffs are mentioned. Everybody knows it's anything goes when the GA is in session -- everybody from the agency head to the lowliest intern. AFSCME is powerful, sure -- but layoffs are always a realistic possibility, despite AFSCME's loudest (or best) efforts.

And because of that no state employee -- absolutely no one -- is brazen enough to not only think their job is 100% safe and assume that they're immune from any potential fallout from the current chaos in Springfield.

Try again. Or, better yet, talk to real state employees.

Re: Now what?

Captain America — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:17:39 -0000

I look at Quinn's apparent blink as a temporary respite/postponement of inevitable doomsday cuts. I still see no signs of a genuine interim or permnanent fiscal solution.

But Dan Hynes was right!Maybe it's time to start from scratch and see what can be done negotiated during a "cooling-off" period.

Re: Now what?

Rich Miller — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:28:19 -0000

Cassandra, the time is not necessarily to benefit the not-for-profit, although it would.

My suggestion for your donation of time is intended to benefit you.

Re: Now what?

815Sox — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:28:12 -0000

"Iâ€™m objecting to their continued demands for a higher income tax on the middle class despite having met the objective of their protest campaign. "

1. The objective has not been meet. Nothing is concreate, and even with this pension promisary note massive cuts will still be made.

2. The call of the protests has been "Just Fix It" not "Raise the taxes". We just want the situation solved. We do not care how it is done.

I can put you into contact with people if you want to volunteer. We could really use the help.