Ed Rendell has actually managed to unite the state legislature! of course...he's united them against him, but hey - unity is unity.

Yes, I'm sure our legislature is eager to pass this bill, and Ed is just dying to sign it.

/what an AW

That's as it should be. It should never even be a question or require additional legislation.

As long as every state rep goes without pay, why not? Seems like a fair deal.

good luck with that

adamgreeney: As long as every state rep goes without pay, why not? Seems like a fair deal.

right, because we only want millionaires to serve.

Good! Governor farkhead hasn't had an on time budget yet.

Marcus Aurelius: Yes, I'm sure our legislature is eager to pass this bill, and Ed is just dying to sign it.

/what an AW

This. What a waste of time. How stupid ARE PA voters expected to be.

Oh.

I like this idea.

Weaver95: Ed Rendell has actually managed to unite the state legislature! of course...he's united them against him, but hey - unity is unity.

Well hell, it worked for Clinton. ;)

I would love to hear the justification of any legislator who votes against this.

It's a load of crap. Here in New York State, they hadn't passed one on time in 30 years.

Once they started getting too much slack about it, they just started "passing" it on time from then on, with "details" to be worked out later.

That's kind of a dick move to the secretaries. They aren't the ones holding things up.

Good idea, but it's illegal under the Thirteenth Amendment. That's why we have to pay convicts for their labor.

But on the other hand, why not compensate these guys with the same wages the prisoners get? Or just keep the legislators locked up until they reach a resolution?

NO PAY all around

I'd be interested in who exactly wouldn't get paid under this. I mean should the head of the Department of Education not get paid because the legislature didn't pass a budget? Or Rendell's press secretary? Why penalize them for something they have no control over?

It seems more fair than the other alternative. Would Rendell sign it though?

FlashHarry: we only want millionaires to serve.

So very very this.

And a big fat "duh" to all of you doing the "why would anyone be against this" thing.

Even with the senior staffers and cabinet secretaries included in this legislation, it still sounds smart. Helps cut down on unproductive political posturing.

johnsoninca: Good idea, but it's illegal under the Thirteenth Amendment. That's why we have to pay convicts for their labor.

As a state employee of Pennsylvania, I'm getting a kick out of this reply.

The Governor just announced that we will be working without pay if the budget is not enacted on time (well, deferred pay), because a court decision ruled that state governments are not required to compensate employees in a timely fashion.

I wish CA would follow this example. The thing is, a late budget means that thousands of state workers get IOU's, all the while, the legislators and governor who can't figure shiat out are still making their six-figure incomes.

Guys, just do what Minnesota did.

By its Constitution, Minnesota cannot run a budget deficit. During one of Ventura's years as governor, there was an impasse -- the projected tax revenues couldn't pay for all their expenditures. Democrats were adamant about not cutting services, Republicans were adamant about not raising taxes or fees.

Their solution? Continue to re-project how much tax revenue would come in from existing taxes until the estimated revenue was enough to pay for the estimated expenses.

Gotta say, Ventura taking a stand against that abomination of a budgeting procedure was one of the few things I really liked about his term as governor. Of course they overrode his veto and passed it anyway.

Sum Dum Gai: By its Constitution, Minnesota cannot run a budget deficit. During one of Ventura's years as governor, there was an impasse -- the projected tax revenues couldn't pay for all their expenditures. Democrats were adamant about not cutting services, Republicans were adamant about not raising taxes or fees.

They should put the Minnesota Legislature on ESPN and get it sponsored by Mountain Dew. The Democrats, as a whole, want to spend spend spend and the GOP doesn't want to raise taxes, but isn't willing to make any sacrifices in their home districts or offer any viable solutions.

It's great fun to watch from a safe distance.

jvl: FlashHarry: we only want millionaires to serve.

So very very this.

And a big fat "duh" to all of you doing the "why would anyone be against this" thing.


millionaires are successful and independent. they are not beholden to other interests, only to their own morals. they are the purest form of american; they are the yeoman farmers of today. they are the ones with character. they do not bow to the money power.

/is he being serious or ironic?

mrjared: I wish CA would follow this example.

Schwarzenegger tried. He was shut down by the Comptroller, I believe.

So instead, they held our state refunds. Thanks.

GAT_00: That's kind of a dick move to the secretaries. They aren't the ones holding things up.

You may be surprised... the 'assistants' of the lawmakers were also caught up in the last payraise 'in the middle of the night' + bonus fiasco. Aids were handed out thousands (some tens of thousands)in cash. For their 'help' in getting the deal pushed thru in the middle of the night. Many legislators were goaded into giving some of it back. Some actually ended up with criminal charges for the bonuses....

And I don't think for a minute this would fly... somehow in this whole deal the lawmakers here in Harrisburg will end up with more cash than ever in benefits, pay and pension.

Yet they will close the Scotland school. Origionally started to educate orphans of veterans. But today it is more of a school for disadvantaged inner city kids...

FlashHarry: right, because we only want millionaires to serve.

Yep. Makes as much sense as banning bio breaks in business meetings, so that all decisions will be made by the people with the largest bladders.

A lot of good ideas are easily expressed but damned difficult to do.

Give them a urinalysis, also

mrjared: I wish CA would follow this example. The thing is, a late budget means that thousands of state workers get IOU's, all the while, the legislators and governor who can't figure shiat out are still making their six-figure incomes.

Needs to be the reverse, dontcha think? Pay the teachers and firefighters, and let those dummies in Sacramento eat ramen and mac-cheese for a few months while they write a new budget.

Larry Mahnken: a court decision ruled that state governments are not required to compensate employees in a timely fashion.

How in the living fark is this legal?

Diogenes: That's as it should be. It should never even be a question or require additional legislation.

Yes, indeed. Nothing lures the best and brightest into public service like the promise of the airing of your dirtiest laundry, all for no pay.

I'm sure they'll get right on this... right after they finish typing it up on the invisible typewriters they put into the budget

That is a great way to increase corruption and pay-offs. Well thought-out idea.

Treat them like "military". Give them the basics, and pay them crap. If they want a better standard of living, pay for it out of the crap wages.

Simple.

In my service we got he basics. Food; not great, housing; worse, but everything was clean and the needs were met. If we wanted a family or apt., then we paid for it.

TedNigma: Treat them like "military". Give them the basics, and pay them crap. If they want a better standard of living, pay for it out of the crap wages.

Simple.

In my service we got he basics. Food; not great, housing; worse, but everything was clean and the needs were met. If we wanted a family or apt., then we paid for it.

Most of them can make more elsewhere. To pay them crap...is idiotic. Humans are selfish, greedy creatures. Politicians are alpha humans. Pay them shiat=loads of corruption=not solving jack.

PA lawmaker introduces bill that would require the governor, his senior staffers, state cabinet secretaries and legislators to forfeit all pay until a budget is finally enacted

In other news "PA lawmaker introduces bill that would legalize slavery." Oh, wait. Same news.

zamboni: PA lawmaker introduces bill that would require the governor, his senior staffers, state cabinet secretaries and legislators to forfeit all pay until a budget is finally enacted

In other news "PA lawmaker introduces bill that would legalize slavery." Oh, wait. Same news.

Furlough's, look it up, this is what Ed does to state workers every year, why not have it reciprocate?

Pass the damn budget on time for a change.

PA lawmaker introduces bill that would require the governor, his senior staffers, state cabinet secretaries and legislators to forfeit all pay until a budget is finally enacted

Good.

PA lawmaker introduces bill that would require the governor, his senior staffers, state cabinet secretaries and legislators to forfeit all pay until a budget is finally enacted balanced.

Better.

adamgreeney: As long as every state rep goes without pay, why not? Seems like a fair deal.

THIS.

SVC_conservative: zamboni: PA lawmaker introduces bill that would require the governor, his senior staffers, state cabinet secretaries and legislators to forfeit all pay until a budget is finally enacted

In other news "PA lawmaker introduces bill that would legalize slavery." Oh, wait. Same news.

Furlough's, look it up, this is what Ed does to state workers every year, why not have it reciprocate?

Pass the damn budget on time for a change.

Does a furlough require you to work without pay, or promise of later compensation? If no, then it's different.