Stop Flushing Our Tax Dollars Down The Toilet

Stop flushing our tax dollars down the toilet.



Yet again an outstanding analysis by Charles M. Arlinghaus and his piece titled A Way to Fix State Education in the Union Leader.

Let us call it what it really is An Educational Spending Crisis. Anyone who does any real analysis of the system will see that spending in education outpaces inflation by double digits in some years and over time. One would also find that there is no correlation between educational spending and educational performance. It is time for our legislators to do some real research on their own. They need to stop pandering to teacher unions and educrats.

The education system has been hijacked by the teachers union and educrats who view the system as their own entitlement program. Here is where you can cut spending in education and save real many get rid of the State Department of Education it is just a bunch of educrats that provide absolutely no direct benefit to a child sitting in a classroom. School performance will not improve or decline with the elimination of said department. The State Department of Education eats tax dollars, fattens educrats wallets and serves as a lobbyist group for educrats by pushing the need for more tax dollars.

If our legislators really cared about "the kids" the money would follow the child and not the institution. Public Education (aka taxpayer funded socialist indoctrination centers) have failed millions of children for the last four decades it is time for real change, let the money follow the child and do away with the federal and state departments of education.

Cathy

There is no "educational funding crisis". Even if there was, no amount of money would ever solve it since the demands of the educational establishment always exceed the capacity of the taxpaying public.

What we have is an educational spending crisis, fueled by frivolous lawsuits and activist judges who think "cherish" equals "centralize and spend like drunken sailors". There is no constitutional obligation for the state to spend one penny on education. Justices with poor reading comprehension do not change this reality.

As far as a "constitutional crisis" goes, the Supreme Court already created one by overstepping their authority granted by the NH Constitution. The Court cannot compel the Legislature to pass any laws or spend any money. A "special master" sounds scary, but has no teeth. The Legislature has a duty to avoid a constitutional crisis by enfocing the separation of powers and NOT submitting to the court's demands.

The "educational adequacy" work was a waste of time and money. Leave education to parents and the communities where it belongs. Concord does not need to become the NEA's latest government piggy bank.

Jim


A way to fix state education funding
By CHARLES M. ARLINGHAUS

Because of the state budget crisis, most of the efforts made on education funding over the last two years will have to be changed. The Legislature has the ability and the opportunity to craft a new plan with the potential to end the constant battle with the courts.

Every month brings news that the state's general tax revenues are not just a little behind the budgeted estimates of a few years ago but are in decline, getting worse, and contributing to a budget hole that will require hundreds of millions of dollars of spending reductions.


The education funding plan that passed last year would require state grants in the next two years of about $100 million more than we will spend in the current two-year budget. But government doesn't have an additional $100 million. On the contrary, we must cut that $100 million and more.

It is not reasonable to believe that we will cut almost every department, division and program of state government but add $100 million to one of the four major state education aid programs (even as we cut or eliminate the other three).

If the amount is to decline, and it almost surely must, then the plan must be revised in total. The necessary revision is an opportunity.

The Legislature can and should draft an education funding plan that starts with the constitution and what legislators think it allows and does not allow. It is the duty of the Legislature to do just that. If lawmakers think a sensible plan that directs aid where it's needed is permissible, they should pass such a plan with an explanation of why they believe it fully complies with their duty to "cherish all seminaries and public schools."

Many who supported some sort of a constitutional amendment did so believing they were changing not the actual constitution but merely rebutting the parts of court decisions they believed were either in error or too inflexible in their interpretation of six words. Many who don't support an amendment believe that flexibility exists within the confines of the court decision.

Without a doubt, some degree of compromise will be necessary. A good starting place for compromise is in the governor's original funding proposal from 2005.

Shortly after his election, Gov. John Lynch proposed a targeted aid plan he believed was constitutional, which eliminated the statewide property tax and sent more aid to towns universally regarded as needy and sent less aid to towns generally regarded as having less need.

The details of which criteria ought to be used and some of the nuances of construction will have to be gone through, but in its broad outlines that plan could command wide support. At the time, it had the support of most of the Democratic leadership and a good portion of the Republican leadership.

Those of us of a more conservative cast were happy to eliminate the statewide property tax. Currently, it merely renames an existing local resource and leaves the money with the local community. But a budget crisis could see the state take over a share and start using it to fund its own shortfalls.

Those of us who asked the governor to include a constitutional amendment with his plan made clear that we thought the Constitution didn't prohibit what he wanted to do, but we were afraid the Supreme Court would say it did. We thought attaching an amendment to the plan was one of the best chances of passing an amendment.

With just five months before a plan must be in place, now is the time for bold action on the part of the governor. The piece of state aid for education that we call "adequacy" will have to be reduced. The best way to make sure that the funds we have are targeted most effectively is to go back to a plan that explicitly targets.

The plan should be sensible and constitutional. It should include a preamble or introduction that explains in detail why the supporters believe it is constitutional. The idea is to attack neither the constitution nor the court. Instead, the governor can explain how he started at a different point than the status quo and how he and the legislators who pass the bill believe it is good policy and constitutional at the same time.

Faced with such a sensible and reasonable effort, the five men and women sitting on the Supreme Court would certainly give due consideration to the argument. More important, instead of trying to figure out what the court wants, the Legislature will have done what it thinks is right.

Charles M. Arlinghaus is president of the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, a free-market think tank in Concord.

Thought of the Day - Taxation Is An Immoral Act.

The 2008 EIA Public Education Quotes of the Year

In the picture below our four year old Anastasia is practicing addition with Jim. The first step is to solve the problem on the abacus, the second step is to check the answer on the calculator and the final step is to confirm the answer on the Lake Shore addition machine. As any competent educator understands repetition is the key to learning math.



Ten more reasons why we hope to homeschool. Thanks to the The Education Intelligence Agency for publishing these ten great quotes.



Cathy

The 2008 EIA Public Education Quotes of the Year

EIA is proud to present the 2008 Public Education Quotes of the Year, in countdown order. Enjoy!

10) "I don't think we should ever lay off teachers." – Manchester, New Hampshire Alderman Mark Roy. (May 29 Manchester Union-Leader)

9) "What an a**hole." – Madison Teachers Inc. Executive Director John Matthews, offering a terse commentary on Stan Johnson, former president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council. (March 27 Isthmus Daily Page)

8) "Obama's right that the NCLB-inspired testing mania is out of control, but wrong to give teachers 'ownership over the design of better assessment tools.' That's a recipe for no assessment, because the teachers unions, for all their lip service, don't believe their members should be judged on performance. They still believe that protecting incompetents is more important than educating children." – Columnist Jonathan Alter. (July 21 Newsweek)

7) "I had an experience in the past couple of weeks that really evolved my thinking about charter schools. I used to think charters were the epitome of all evil, and just created solely to bring down public schools. After my experience, I find I need to alter that view a lot. The people I met at this charter conference, I must say, are just like me, just like you. People who were simply fed up with the status quo and were tired of hitting their head against a system that will not change." – Julie Washington, elementary vice president of United Teachers Los Angeles. (August 6 Socialist Worker)

6) "You'd think it would be a no-brainer that people who don't perform get the axe and those who do get raises. Isn't that the way it works in most nonunionized professions? But the teachers union apparently exists in some alternate universe where everyone is rewarded equally regardless of the quality of their work." - Leonard Pitts Jr. (November 16 Miami Herald)

5) "Until we really do bust the teachers unions, the next generation of kids in public schools is at risk." - Andrew Sullivan. (November 13 Daily Dish)

4) "With increasing cost of college loans and health care and the fact that the buying power of the teacher dollar is no more than what it was 20 years ago, we're pretty much back to where we were when I started teaching in the 1960s. I had to work in the summer to eat." – Cheryl Umberger of the Tennessee Education Association. (May 23 Tennessean)

3) "If this is about morality, our president-elect has admitted to doing crack, and he's our president. Does that make him a bad person?" – Louisa C. Tuck, New Jersey elementary school cafeteria and playground aide, responding to parental complaints about her past employment in the adult entertainment industry under the name Crystal Gunns. (November 21 Vineland Daily Journal)

2) "By the way, had the teachers' union been around when Sam Adams threw tea into the harbor, they would have run ads against him." - Carla Howell, whose ballot initiative to eliminate the Massachusetts income tax was defeated by a well-funded union campaign. (November 5 Standard-Times)

1) "When the scores go up, it's not just meaningless. It's worrisome." – Alfie Kohn. (October 18 Salt Lake Tribune)

Rep. Roger Wells: State has little choice but to find new revenue - We Say B.S.

The following tasty morsel appeared in the Union Leader.

As always be sure to read the comments you can always spot the tax eaters. Only a whacked out educrat could coin the phrase Slots for Tots.

Anyone looking for pawn shops, prostitutes, payday businesses and increased crime will have no problem finding them near any new casino.

Mr. Wells do us all a favor don't pretend to be a Republican switch to the Democratic party.

Cathy

Want to know where to cut spending? How about all of this "Educational Adequacy" nonsense whose spending spree is only just beginning?

The NH Constitution does not authorize the state to spend one dime on education. Nor does it permit the Supreme Court to order the Legislature to spend money or pass laws.

Leave education to the towns as has been working so well for decades. Sure, a complete elimination of state education spending might raise property taxes, but it would lower state taxes even more.

Besides wasting our money, what does government do well? Not much. Why squander limited resources on inefficient state programs?
- Jim Peschke

Rep. Roger Wells: State has little choice but to find new revenue

Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009

Now that we are starting the new year and a new legislative session, it is time to make some choices as to where our state is heading financially. While we are looking at as much as a $500 million deficit, are we willing to see our property taxes skyrocket further? Are we willing to finally accept an income or sales tax? Are we willing to look at expanded gambling as a solution?


After a 16-month study by a subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee, the full committee voted to recommend the introduction of future legislation for the use of video lottery terminals. Though the 9-8 vote was close, had all members been present the outcome would have been three votes more for the majority opinion. In other words, after hearing the information presented, the vote would have been 12-8 for opening a serious debate on whether gambling should be considered as a revenue source for our state.

While gambling is an easy target for some well-intentioned people, the facts do not support the perceived evils. The bill that was studied would have provided $5 million for treatment programs for addictive behavior, including treatment not only for gambling problems but also for drug, tobacco and alcohol addiction. The committee learned that many of these problems are co-occurring; that is, those who are likely to have a problem with one type of abuse are also vulnerable to gambling.

While it is obvious that many New Hampshire citizens already struggle with addiction problems, the services needed to treat such problems are woefully underfunded. Unfortunately, these people, many of whom already have gambling problems, will continue to be underserved until the state finds the revenue sources to fill this gap. The current budget crisis only deepens the hole.

The committee found that the incidence of pathological gambling problems ranged between 1 to 2 percent, far lower than addiction rates for alcohol and tobacco. Information provided by Dr. Clyde Barrow from the Center for Policy Analysis at the University of Massachusetts showed that most people who gamble at casinos or racinos do so responsibly as a form of entertainment. By contrast, those who play the lottery or buy scratch tickets forego the entertainment component (how long does it take to scratch a ticket?) and make their purchase solely with the unlikely chance of coming out of the gas station or variety store with more money than they had when they went in.

The many polls taken in New Hampshire consistently show that the public favors this as a revenue source by numbers between 70 to 80 percent.

The data also showed that "social costs" of casino gambling were much lower than perceived by opponents. Our state is experiencing significant "social costs" right now as property tax increases squeeze a growing number of people out of their homes.

Based on data from states with similar programs, the revenue New Hampshire would realize was estimated at $250 million to $319 million per year. If most of that state revenue were directed to education funding, local property taxes in most towns could be reduced significantly, by about one third.

The report also showed that if the casinos were located at the racetracks in Salem, Hampton, Loudon and Hinsdale, approximately 80 percent of the revenue produced would come from out-of-state residents within a 100-mile radius.

The outspoken opponents of gambling often talk of corruption that may be associated with gambling. Most often the corruption is the vast amount of money sent by gambling interests from surrounding states to politicians in the states considering gambling. The speaker of the house in Massachusetts is a prime example. He has received money from gambling interests and has single-handedly blocked legislation from going to the floor.

Soon the Legislature and the citizens will be faced with a choice: Cut many of our existing services or look for new revenue. The only choices are to increase property taxes, institute an income tax or sales tax, or introduce expanded legal gambling at those facilities where gambling already exists and maybe consider other possible locations.

My property tax this year will represent approximately 30 percent of my total income. I cannot afford to continue to live in the state without relief. I am not alone in this situation.

The choices are increasing the property tax or instituting an income tax, a sales tax or gambling. "None of the above" is not one of the choices.

Rep. Roger G. Wells, R-H

Teachers asked to give back pay raises.

I really doubt that the teachers or any school employee would take a pay cut the teachers I have met in recent years are just to greedy they also have an entitlement mentality and feel they do not have to actually be responsible for educating their students. Over the next couple years school boards in New Hampshire may be asking the same of their teachers. For the last two decades private sector employees have seen a decrease in benefits and down sizing the same does not hold true for the public education system.

I found the survey results interesting. A number of people have been told that raises would not be received in 2009 and that 401K plans would no longer be matched by employers. In turn these employees are grateful to still have jobs. Why would anyone reject a pay cut* with the expected down turn in the economy and risk losing their job.

The comments on the site are a must read as well.

Cathy

*Typing correction 01/07/2009

The following piece appeared in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.


Fayette furlough request would have to be unanimous
If all county employees don’t agree to return raises, county wouldn’t ask it

By JOHN HOLLIS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Monday, January 05, 2009
Fayette County school officials insisted Tuesday that any talk of asking employees to voluntarily give back their raises is just that.

And any such plan would have to get unanimous approval from all the county’s employees, not just teachers, in a survey to soon be distributed.

In these economic times, would you be willing to return a raise to keep your employer afloat?
Yes, sacrifices are called for. 37.59% 2506
No, I'm struggling too. 62.41% 4161


Fayette: All would have to agree on raise give-backs

“In order for it to be even considered, we would have to have 100 percent of all of our employees agree on the survey,” said school spokeswoman Melinda Berry-Dreisbach. “We feel like we owe it to our employees to let them tell us. If we don’t get 100 percent, it wouldn’t be fair to look at it.”

The county’s roughly 1,800 teachers were abuzz with talk during Tuesday’s first teaching day of the new year.

Several felt blindsided by the news, but declined to be interviewed for this story.

On Monday night, school board members discussed asking teachers to give back the 2.5 percent pay raises they would receive for the second half of this school year. That giveback, members said, would help the cash-strapped school system stay solvent through the current 2008-09 school year and avoid layoffs.

The raises totaled $4 million from school coffers. The state had been scheduled to pay for half, but reneged after slashing state education budgets.

The voluntary contributions would not be retroactive to the start of the school year, Berry-Dreisbach said.

If county employees choose to donate their pending raise money, the county would recoup $2 million. Current projections estimate Fayette County schools are en route to a budget deficit of roughly $1.8 million. State law requires each school system to have a balanced budget.

In return for giving up their raises, employees would take furloughed days. No employee would pony up any cash.

The request highlights the severe difficulties facing the Fayette County school system in the wake of unexpected state budget cuts and diminished property tax revenues in a struggling economy.

“Something has to be done,” superintendent John DeCotis said at the board meeting. “It’s a matter of what has the least impact on students.”

Board members Bob Todd and Marion Key sounded confident that county employees, including the teachers, would embrace the idea of returning their raises in the interest of community.

Both board members cited the number of calls they’d received from teachers saying they’d prefer to take a small hit than to see any colleagues lose their jobs.

They also noted the Montgomery County, Md., teachers who took note of the struggling economic times and agreed in early December to forego a 5.3 percent raise promised to them.

“They did it to protect the jobs of everybody,” Todd said.

Only the money they sacrificed wasn’t expected until the 2010 fiscal year. Fayette County’s employees could be asked to take money immediately.

The gesture of the Maryland teachers allowed that state’s largest school system to balance its budget by saving $89 million, said Dan Kaufman, a spokesman for the Maryland State Teachers Association.

The Maryland teachers were represented by a union and took home some big concessions in health care benefits and other promises in exchange for their sacrifice, Kaufman said. Fayette teachers are not represented by a union.

The decision to turn to Fayette teachers and other employees followed a lengthy meeting in which the board had discussed a number of other cost-saving measures, both for the current school year and beyond.

Those options included the furloughing of some contracted employees, such as principals, starting next month and the slashing of pre-kindergarten para-pro salaries, all in the hopes of avoiding layoffs.

Other measures considered include a reduction in county contributions to employee life and long-term disability insurance plans and a possible reduction of the 180-day school year.

The board will reconvene on Jan. 27.

What a Great Idea

We stopped having the Eagle Times delivered right about the time of the first snowfall. We live on a pretty steep hill and our driveway can also be pretty slippery in the winter. I have fallen a number of times getting the mail. In fact the mailbox was difficult even for the mailman to get to so the mailman requested our mailbox be moved into our driveway because the road we live on is steep and the edge of the road changes so dramatically with the weather. But I digress, because it was difficult to get to the newspaper delivery box, I cancelled the Eagle Times for the winter. Initially we received the Argus Champion but sadly that ceased publication. Again I digress.

So for the first time in a long time this morning I went to the Eagle Times and saw the following article. What joy a delicious cup of coffee and officials actually using their brains. Our Founding Fathers would be happy to see this turn of events. I have to admit it was a shocker especially since it came from Claremont home of those dreadful people who sued over an "adequate education." Anyone with a lick of sense knows it was about getting more money for the tax-eaters who refuse to be accountable for actually educating our children.

Cathy


Volunteer tax credit proposed


Would reduce property taxes for some

By BEN BULKELEY, Staff Writer
Monday, January 05, 2009 7:59 PM

CLAREMONT -- Mirroring what some towns in Massachusetts have done to get more volunteers in city departments, State representative John Cloutier, D-Claremont, wants to propose legislation that would allow senior citizens to get a credit for their property tax bills if they volunteer their time in the city.

The bill is currently a Legislative Service Request (LSR), which is a request to draft a bill.

"I submitted this proposed legislation after doing some research on the idea, which was first proposed to me by Mayor Deborah Cutts a year ago," said Cloutier. "Mayor Cutts said she heard of a program in Mass. that gave senior citizens some property tax relief in exchange for community service."

If it becomes law, it would allow seniors over the age of 60 to receive a credit up to $750 if they volunteered for one of the city departments.

"I requested that the legislature's research division check out the program, and they confirmed that there was such a program in Mass.," said Cloutier. "Over the past year I became more interested in this program, and believed it was worth serious consideration in New Hampshire."

Mayor Cutts said that by using the tax credit in exchange for volunteers, Claremont would ultimately benefit.

"This is a win-win opportunity. I believe we have a segment of our population that frequently volunteers-- typically parents or folks very dedicated to culture or arts," said Cutts. "Volunteering for these groups comes easy-- it's part of our daily life and culture and it satisfies some of our needs."

Cloutier said that the towns that wished to participate in the program would be able to decide how it would be implemented.

"If the program were to become law it would be up to local communities to decide whether to participate," Cloutier said. "The city council would have to vote to participate in the case of Claremont, and town meetings would vote on whether communities like Unity and Lempster would participate, in my district's case."

Cutts said that the program could target members of the community who wouldn't normally volunteer.

"I also believe we have a segment of our population that isn't as involved in community activities as they could be," said Cutts, referring to senior citizens. "Reasons include lack of transportation, limited belief that they could really make a difference, belief they are of the old school and that nobody really wants them, fear, lack of incentive.

"I hear this when I visit and talk with folks around town and I hear it when I talk with younger folks about their parents, aunts and uncles," said Cutts. "The biggest sore point in Claremont is property taxes-- if we can offer an opportunity to reduce your taxes and help share your value in your community-- what a great mix."

Cloutier said that the program could be used in a different number of ways.

"Ideally I envision the local communities having broad leeway within certain established limits (such as the legislation's proposed maximum amount of tax relief of $750 for citizens over age 60) on which municipal departments would use volunteers, for which jobs, and for what amount of time," said Cloutier.

"As a Claremont citizen I think we might be able to use volunteers in such areas as transfer station and recycling center, Fiske Library, Goodwin Community Center, and the Visitors Center, among other examples," he said.

The visitor center was one of the locations Cutts described as having a need for volunteers.

"I'm not positive at this point but one opportunity that came to mind was our visitor center," said Cutts. "We would love to staff the visitor center but staffing won't allow that right now. I think there are Claremont senior citizens that would love an opportunity to volunteer staffing our visitor center simply because it would be fun. If they could get a tax break, even better."

No time or date has been scheduled for the LSR, Cloutier said.

Cutts added that the program could have other benefits.

"I do believe that many of our senior citizens would become more involved and share their help and expertise because that is one of the ways we teach them to stay healthy," said Cutts, adding that the incentive of a tax credit would entice more people to participate.

"We are really trying to get enabling legislation versus implementing this right away in Claremont," said Cutts. "We are trying to make the opportunity available. As I always say... build it and they will come."

Ben Bulkeley can be reached at (603) 543-3100 ext. 105, or by e-mail at bbulkeley@eagletimes.com

Thought of the day - Liberal Fascism at its best. NBC cuts Coulter; Keeps Perez. Gee I thought this was America.

I Told You So!

Socialism here we come. On numerous occasions and most recently on October 3rd, 2008 and on November 1st, 2008 I predicted the bailout of State governments. Governments need to learn how to cut spending because that is what we the taxpayers will need to do when they start taxing us to pay for all of these bailouts.

As far as I am concerned we could get all forms of governments out of debt by the governments taking the money from their employees (aka taxpayer funded workers) and their retired employees pensions. Here is a list of my suggestions.

1. From here on out all government employees must retire no earlier than 67 and government employees can no longer double, triple or even quadruple dip into government pensions.

2. No government employee salary can exceed 75,000 dollars (this would be adjusted for inflation over time) with the exception of the President and Vice-president.

3. Governments employees can no longer receive taxpayer funded medical plans once retired they must use Medicare like those in the private sector.

4. Either all pensions funds must be turned over to social security and all governments workers must receive social security like the rest of us schmucks or all pensions must now longer exceed 40,000 dollars annually (that is a heck of a lot more money than they would receive if they received social security). Some Government Pensioners are receiving pensions well over 200,000 dollars a year. These pensions start at age 55 so these retired government employees are getting millions of dollars in retirement.

5. All currently retired employees under age 67 can no longer receive pensions.

6. Government employees must no longer be allowed to be unionized.

7. We must enforce term limits not to exceed 8 years in all levels of the government. Without term limits we often have nepotism, patronage, corruption and wasteful spending.

Corrected for typos and clarity 1/4/09.

Cathy


The following piece appeared on Reuters.com.




U.S. governors seek $1 trillion federal assistance
Fri Jan 2, 2009 5:48pm EST
By Jon Hurdle

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Governors of five U.S. states urged the federal government to provide $1 trillion in aid to the country's 50 states to help pay for education, welfare and infrastructure as states struggle with steep budget deficits amid a deepening recession.

The governors of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Ohio and Wisconsin -- all Democrats -- said the initiative for the two-year aid package was backed by other governors and follows a meeting in December where governors called on President-elect Barack Obama to help them maintain services in the face of slumping revenues.

Gov. David Paterson of New York said 43 states now have budget deficits totaling some $100 billion as tax revenues plunge.

"It's clear that the federal government needs to step in and jump-start the economy," said Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts.

The latest package calls for $350 billion to create jobs by building or repairing roads, bridges and other public works; $250 billion to maintain education; and another $250 billion in "counter-cyclical" spending such as extending unemployment benefits and food stamps, which are typically a responsibility of the states.

The remainder would be used to fund middle-class tax cuts, stimulate the embattled housing market, and stem the tide of home foreclosures through a loan-modification program.

Gov. Jon Corzine of New Jersey said he hoped some of the $700 billion authorized by Congress in the Troubled Asset Relief Program would be available to help the housing market.

The governors said during a conference call with reporters that the plan had been discussed with Congressional leaders and the incoming administration, which had indicated its willingness to help.

"The Obama team has been very receptive in listening to us," said Gov. Jim Doyle of Wisconsin. He said "quite a number" of other governors back the initiative.

The Republican Governors Association, however, said the level of federal aid being sought would create a burden for the future.

"The proposal by the Democratic governors goes beyond things like 'shovel-ready' infrastructure projects and is essentially a bailout of these states' general funds," Nick Ayers, executive director of the Republican Governors Association, said in a statement. "Now is the time to focus on finding cost-effective ways to provide essential services without burdening future generations with ever greater debt."

Doyle of Wisconsin said the plan would allow states to maintain essential services at about the current level until 2010, when the national economy is expected to begin a recovery.

The proposal comes amid expectations that the Obama administration, which takes office on January 20, will provide hundreds of billions of dollars in economic stimulus to boost the shrinking U.S. economy and halt the loss of jobs.

Paterson of New York said his state's budget deficit has surged to $15.4 billion currently from $5 billion in April 2008, despite a 3.2 percent cut in the education budget.

Corzine said the money called for represents about 3 percent to 3.5 percent of the economy, equivalent to the amount that the economy is expected to contract by over the next two quarters.

In light of the $700 billion provided to bail out the financial industry, "It's not shockingly large," he said.

(Editing by Leslie Adler)

Will The Tax Eaters Be A Part of the Problem or a Part of the Solution

The article below titled "Employee contracts eyed for tax relief" is one that I wanted to comment on but have been to busy as of late to do so. The article appeared in the Union Leader.

My hope is that the Citizens of New Hampshire come to see how greedy government and school employees are, but unfortunately I don't think that they will. In November 2006, New Hampshire changed for the worse; with newspaper readership down, voter apathy up and tax eaters in control at many levels of government and on school boards taxpayers will continue to be taken to the cleaners.

These greedy acts by unions are not uncommon and just go to show you that they care only about themselves and don't give a darn if they bankrupt states. Irresponsible legislators, governors and school boards are also to blame for allowing such insane contracts to be put in place over the last twenty years.

Cathy


Employee contracts eyed for tax relief
By GARRY RAYNO
Friday, Dec. 26, 2008

MANCHESTER – Gov. John Lynch wants state employees to forgo a contractual raise. The Bedford School Board recently asked teachers to reopen their contract.

Rumblings in other cities and towns about renegotiating contracts are heard as local officials attempt to keep expenses down and taxpayer revolts to a minimum.

The economic meltdown is on Main Street.

State and local governments are facing a financial crisis like they haven't seen since the late 1980s and early 1990s, when revenues were in free fall, the five largest banks in the state failed and many buildings along Elm Street in Manchester were owned by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

This month, Lynch publicly asked the State Employees Association to defer a scheduled 5.5 percent raise, saying, "Our nation is facing an unprecedented economic downturn with serious ramifications for our state budget."

Lynch called his proposed deferral of the state pay raise "reasonable and responsible."

Lynch wants the concession to help close an estimated $75 million budget shortfall as a result of a $250 million revenue deficit.

To date, the state employees union has been reluctant to go along with the governor, saying there are other ways to reduce expenses besides forgoing the 5.5 percent raise. Instead, the union suggests a four-day work week among other ways to reduce costs.

Union officials also said it would be difficult to take all the necessary votes to reopen the contract and agree to a wage freeze by the end of the 2009 fiscal year, June 30.

New Hampshire Municipal Association general counsel Maura Carroll said that while she has not heard of any communities asking public employees to reopen contracts, everyone is watching the SEA to see what the union does.

She said many communities currently negotiating contracts must address increasing costs resulting from new laws. She cited as an example a law under which provisions of an expired contract are maintained until a new agreement is in place.

Another law significantly increases retirement costs for communities that allow employees to collect large payouts for unused vacation or sick time to increase their benefits, Carroll said.

"People are really struggling with what it is they can afford at this point and how to keep the budget process moving along," Carroll said. "It's very difficult for everybody right now at all levels of government and into the private sector."

The Bedford School Board asked the teachers union to reopen a three-year contract that is in its second year, but school administrators doubt the union will go along with the request.

Superintendent Tim Mayes said the board this week reduced the proposed budget to less than what the default budget would be.

Other boards, including the Raymond School Board and the Londonderry Town Council, have taken similar actions.

The Goffstown School Board proposed a budget that would be less than the default budget, only to have the budget committee cut an additional $1.3 million.

This month, the Newport School Board approved a proposed budget that would be the same amount as the current-year default budget, resulting in the elimination of 10 teaching and six paraprofessional positions.

New Hampshire AFL-CIO President Mark MacKenzie said that while he has not heard of specific unions being asked to reopen contracts, "that does not surprise me at all . . . There are probably a slew of those waiting in the wings. As the pressure increases, that's going to be an option they're going to look at."

Laura Hainey, state president of the American Federation of Teachers, said no community has asked her union members to renegotiate a contract, leading her to believe her organization has negotiated some reasonable pacts.

Some of the open contracts have been settled and some have not, Hainey noted.

"It is tough going. Everyone knows we're in hard economic times, and people aren't expecting huge raises," she said.

Mike Roche, president of the union that represents Manchester Water Works employees, doesn't believe Manchester will try to renegotiate existing contracts.

"I don't see that happening here," Roche said, although he noted the upcoming fiscal year, which is the last in the current contract, has the highest raise for employees.

If other communities are trying to reopen contracts, Manchester might not be immune, Roche said, though he knows of no other time the city had ever asked to renegotiate.

Ted Comstock, executive director of the New Hampshire School Boards Association, said he had heard that some communities are asking not only teachers but also police and fire unions to renegotiate.

"We are encouraging our members to explore every feasible options they have to maintain services at the current level," Comstock said. "Schools are a labor-rich environment at a significant cost, and our boards are doing everything they can to control those costs.

"Generally, one of the dilemmas school boards have is to . . . ask unions to renegotiate wage increases. But if they refuse, the only realistic alternative is to look at layoffs, which is not a happy prospect for anyone," Comstock said.

Thought of the Day - I read the following headline on CNN "Woman, 88, yanks nude intruder's testicles." We have dial up so I never go to the videos, but my first thought was "Bravo!" If confronted with the same situation in my home I would do the same but I would probably detach them if someone tried that on me.

Cathy