Took no time at all for some to be filed in the Governor’s furlough notion. That is the leading growth industry in New York, so it seems.
It is interesting that everybody agrees (by en large) that there is a problem and solutions are bandied about that leave the social givers unscathed. While it is easy to scoff at the Tea party signs that say keep the government off my medicare, it’s a little troubling that the budget for New York State is almost 40 days late. Some in the hallowed halls want it known that they haven’t been paid during that time. I don’t care. Why should you be? You haven’t produced.
I have this gnawing fear that the state government is in perpetual election mode and won’t touch anything that endangers that. Since it is such a constant, incumbents stay that way with ease. If every department cut back 10%, that would make a dent so half assed concepts like closing revenue generating facilities would not be an option. If state employees would chip into their healthcare, even 20%, that could save a lot of woes. Funded education programs are more important than committee stipends.
If actual decisions were made, we could get some place. At the rate things are going, Governor Patterson’s successor will be casting about like that old joke where the leader must find out where the people are headed so he can leave them. This thing has been broken for some time and the economic parachute ain’t coming back for Albany’s big spenders. Everybody seems to know that but them
Instead, Sen. Thompson posts on facebook of fundraisers at the Tavern on the Green, Economic Development trips to the Caribbean (yeah, right), and changes in insurance laws so it benefits Sen. Thompson.
If we get the leadership we deserve, we must suck.
Mike's Pub 