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Today's Poll!Nixon defends state job cuts
Gov. Jay Nixon speaks to members of the media Thursday at the Governor’s Mansion during the Associated Press/Missouri Press Association Day at the Capitol. Kelley McCall
Friday, February 11, 2011
Missouri leaders must continue to make sure the state is “maintaining our fiscal discipline” while also working hard “to create the jobs of the future,” Gov. Jay Nixon told Missouri reporters, editors and media company owners Thursday afternoon.
But, even while continuing a push to get more job opportunities for Missourians, the governor defended ongoing efforts to reduce the size of the state’s workforce.
“We’ve had to lean-up the workforce by about 3,300,” Nixon said during the annual Associated Press/Missouri Press Association “Day at the Capitol” event. “We’ve had to, in essence, take about $1.8 billion out of the budget of this state.
“I’ve tried to make those cuts at the places I thought were the most appropriate to make them — it is never easy ... to let folks go.”
The governor said he doesn’t take those job-cutting decisions lightly, “but I do think and continue to believe that there are efficiencies in government that we can continue to get.”
Nixon acknowledged state employees haven’t had raises in several years.
“I appreciate people who take public service as a calling, and I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that they have not only jobs, but careers,” Nixon said. “I think it’s important to note that, in our merit system, 7,400 people were promoted last year.
“If you’re only thinking about what ‘cost of living’ increase you get — we need employees who want to get promoted and want to have more responsibility.”
Marry Me
Comments
GodNGuns 2 years, 3 months ago
How many more deputy directors can the state have? The ones getting these promotions are only the higher ups in state government. Jay is not fooling anyone but the news media.trapo studv
JCsleeper 2 years, 3 months ago
Most employees would welcome additional responsibilities for a chance at a promotion. Many state employees have already taken on the additional responsibilities of the 3,300 eliminated positions plus new duties the legislative and executive branches have mandated. There are often no higher positions available for advancement unless someone quits, dies or retires. If there are limited chances for promotions, the majority can only hope for cost of living or other crumbs from the master's table. Public service a calling? Nice try, Jay.
wcywing 2 years, 3 months ago
Well Gov, i would not want your job. i don't know if i would want a state job. seems to be a hassle to get, and once you get a state job, you have to worry if you are going to get cut or not.
the Gov can always cut his salary, and those on his staff. he has a pers. cook too, if i'm not mistaken.
even though the state job market doesn't look good, the other job sectors don't look promising either.
GodNGuns 2 years, 3 months ago
I think its pretty clear how Mr. Nixon feels about his state employees. It is a shame but well understood by the average employee.Private sector should look through the blue book and they will understand why employees are upset. The rich get richer and the workers are kicked to the curb. Come on 2012 !!!!!!!!!!!!!
JCLifer 2 years, 3 months ago
He really has no clue as to what is going on in the agencies right under his nose, does he?
Jay has surrounded himself with so many "yes-men" that he has completely insulated himself from what is actually happening in state government.
Totally amazing. Sad, but amazing.
rmsberengaria 2 years, 3 months ago
I learned in the private sector moving up through the ranks a phrase...."Too many Chiefs and not enough Indians"! Very sad the bloat in mid-level bureaucrats drafting memo's for motivational staff meetings, recaps on how to spend the publics money, and proposing up grades in pay grade levels, changes/qualifications requiring a degree, for a job that once was held by HS graduates with computer knowledge, to create a spreadsheet and call it "Tech Specilist"! Oh and raise the pay grade from 30,000 to 38,000 That really is saving the state money! What a joke!
3blindmice 2 years, 3 months ago
he can't really be that ignorant about what is really happening in these state jobs? all those jobs he is talking about got filled by political appointees. if he wants to cut fat start cutting the bloated upper management.
wcywing 2 years, 3 months ago
cuts of course have to be made, but don't expect people to be happy if their pay is cut or no raise for years now. at least Missouri is trying to prevent a financial crisis that other states are experiencing. but whatever gets cut, people will be upset.
it would be nice if the legislature and the Gov cut their pay a bit, but i don't see that happening. is the Gov still flying around Missouri?
yeahokay 2 years, 3 months ago
Graceful - I agree with some of what you said. State workers did have it easy for a while, and we do get some trivial holidays throughout the year that the private sector does not, we do accumulate vacation and sick leave faster than some private sector jobs. However, have you considered those employees not under the Merit system are just a deserving for a promotion or salary increase? Why should some employees be thankful for the any pay increase OA may distribute, while others are guarranteed pay increases just because of the system they were hired under (Merit)?
rmsberengaria 2 years, 3 months ago
Even President Franklin Roosevelt, a friend of private-sector unionism, drew a line when it came to government workers: "Meticulous attention," the president insisted in 1937, "should be paid to the special relations and obligations of public servants to the public itself and to the Government....The process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service."
rollnthndr 2 years, 3 months ago
Local legislators talk about making life better for the rank and file state employee. Gov Nixon touted the savings that will be accomplished with the new pension plan, MSEP 2011. This legislation allows legislators to qualify for full benefits with only 6 years of service, 3 biennial sessions and they will be eligible for this pension at age 62. Statewide elected officials, governor, can qualify for a pension after 4 years of service.
General employees must work 10 years to qualify for their pension and must be at least 67 years of age. The highest in the nation along with Illinois.
Has anyone heard of Senator Kehoe, or Representatives Barnes and Bernskoetter trying to rectify this situation? Why don't they allow general employees to vest with 6 years of service, or require legilsators and elected officials to vest with 10 years of service?
Do these individuals have the courage to step up and do what is right? Time will tell. My guess is "NO". Politics as usual.
GodNGuns 2 years, 3 months ago
rollnthndr has it right ! Until state vokers stand up it policy as usual. Sad to say but TRUE.
JCLifer 2 years, 3 months ago
If the state voters are happy receiving low-quality services that are #50 in the nation, and if they are happy driving on the 50th worst state roads, camping in the #50 worst state parks, fishing in the #50 worst rivers and lakes, etc., then just continue cuts and bashing of state workers. They already have #50 worst pay, and the benefits used to be good but no anymore.
YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!
JCLifer 2 years, 3 months ago
i don't think the state does any more than what the elected officials and voters let them do. Guess if you want to reduce services you should elect officals to cut services. i don't think you can blame the state employees to want to be able to do a good job doing the things that they have been asked to do. i would imagine it is very difficult to work in a job where the customers demand more and more, but the management provides very few resources to get things done in a quality manner, and on top of that everyone hates you.
JCLifer 2 years, 3 months ago
Seems fair that the Governor's office. Legislature, and MO Supreme Court should also do their part and take a bunch of cuts, layoffs, no more travel, employees do two or three jobs, etc.
All these raises the governor says folks are getting must be at the high level.
Can you believe the average state salary is something like $48,000? That means there are a whole lot of state managers making $70,000 to balance the thousands of low-paid corrections, direct-care in Social services, DMH, Health and Senior Services, etc. I wish NT would do a statistical analysis of all the salaries and # of employees. Seems the State government is very top-heavy with many many folks making over $70,000.
GodNGuns 2 years, 3 months ago
I have worked for the state for 25 years and make alittle more than 30k and I am at the top of my scale.Jay Nixon and the private sector dont have a clue about the AVERAGE state employee that lives pay check to pay check.
The cost of living keeps going up but when was the last time a state employee saw a pay raise? Everyone wants to biatch about state emplyees, I think the private sector should live with NO pay raises and lose some of their benefits.Then we can talk on an even playing field.
RealWorld 2 years, 3 months ago
Wouldn't it be great if he would get rid of the slackers and the troublemakers? Where I work our "leader" walks around with a cup of coffee and shoots the bs with certain employees. This person makes 3 times what many state workers make. I'm not sure they do any "real work". Some of the bosses congregate throughout the day to bs about their love lives, gossip about employees, drink coffee often for a couple of hours or more at a time. Of course if a cigarette break or 2 hour lunch is needed, they will breakup sooner. The unspoken rules: Bad mouthing other employees gets you rewarded by yet another day off that you don't have to claim or at least an extra long lunch. If you don't get your way; you can slam doors, yell, bully, swear or of course take more time off. Then another employee can do the work for you while you get the credit. If you are a rotten person but younger or wear your clothes tighter then the person you are harassing then you can get away with most things including false accusations and stealing office supplies. If you charm the "leader" or the "mini leaders" you can arrive late and leave early; it's ok because you are more special then the other employees. Now think how much would be saved if he got rid of these employees. Some of us show up on time and work hard and try to make a difference and don't complain about getting a raise because we are too busy doing our job.
rmsberengaria 2 years, 3 months ago
Very well said and you would puke when you see what the leaders and mini department leaders make for so little real work! 68,000 - 75,000 a year. Oh, and they are managing 10 people maybe....most business owners don't make that kind of money. but when its the tax-payers money and no competition that is what happens. Owners would put these mini bosses or middle managers either to work or out the door in a heart beat!
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