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Today's Poll!Senate plan would cut size of state pay raise
Thursday, April 5, 2012
It’s far from a done-deal.
But the Missouri Senate’s Appropriations Committee on Wednesday approved a state employee pay raise plan that provides a 2 percent raise only for those employees making up to $45,000 a year.
That’s $25,000 less than the House-passed plan, which gave a 2 percent raise for all employees making up to $70,000 a year.
So the difference will have to be negotiated with the House during conference committee meetings later this spring.
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Comments
him 1 year, 2 months ago
It shouldn't matter how much you make. They all deserve a pay raise. But 2%.... Why waste your time to give them $35 a pay check? I'm sure we need a state insect or something.
JCsleeper 1 year, 2 months ago
Problably ought to count the number of employees making less than $40k per year, form a committee, and study why they make less than $40k.
mmhh 1 year, 2 months ago
Raise the low, low tax on cigarettes! Tax a health hazard to give state workers a better quality of life!
John 1 year, 2 months ago
I wonder how much thought has been given to the entire anti-tobacco campaign.
Given governments penchant for ending taxation, consider this. Tobacco generates millions of dollars in revenue at state and federal levels. Do you suppose that, when tobacco is finally completely outlawed [as is most assuredly will be], the government will be nosing around to look for a new substite upon which they can enact a tax in order to keep up the flow of money into federal coffers? They will certainly have to do something to provide sustenance to those displaced by the outlawed iondustry; tobacco farmers, tobacco agricultural workers, drying houses, manufacturers, interstate transporters, etc?
asb 1 year, 2 months ago
At a time when drugs in general are being seen as best controlled rather than outlawed, I doubt you'll see cigarettes outlawed, unless you just want to fear the government. But you might want to look at the studies by government, academia and insurers, that show that the fewer cigarettes are smoked, the lower overall healthcare gets, and the more productive the workforce is. In other words, the taxes won't be missed.
spelchek 1 year, 2 months ago
"...the taxes won't be missed." -- LOL
spelchek 1 year, 2 months ago
While were at it, lets raise taxes on soda, foods with fat and excessive sugars, cell phones (used while driving and annoyingly in public places), cars, motorcycles, boats, tattoos, trees, flowers, bees, peanuts, gluten, professional sports, and on and on and on...as all the aforementioned things are a "health hazard" in some shape or form. Or do you not want taxes to go up on some of the things listed that you enjoy; surely not, that would be hypocritical. How about asking your government to stop spending money it doesn't have instead of asking for more of ours. If I don't make my budget, I'm broke and potentially destitute. Shouldn't our "representatives" represent in the same fashion?
2warped757 1 year, 2 months ago
Wonder how big the last Senate pay raise was...
JCLifer 1 year, 2 months ago
Where is the Chamber and the Jeff City Council on this? They ought to be lobbying hard to give ALL state workers a cost of living raise. The pay of the state employees is the single biggest factor that affects the economy and the standard of living for everyone in this region. The state is the largest employer and it sets the pay scales for every other business that has to compete with the state for employees. City tax revenues will continue to errode if state employees pay continues to errode.
By limiting the raise to $45k salaries and below, they are cutting out the YOUNG PROFESSIONALS the city is hanging its future on. The State's lack of competitive pay for young professionals will drastically hurt the Jefferson City economy even more.
mia 1 year, 2 months ago
Hate to tell ya but there are NO jobs for the young professionals here. NONE. The job market is saturated with degreed people now that are needing a job. Its that bad. Be glad, state workers, that you do have a job.
jcguy25 1 year, 2 months ago
No jobs or no jobs they will accept? A lot of the young people don't seem to understand that they may have to take a position below their degree to get a foot in the door and gain work experience. Unfortunately, many feel they've got the degree so they should immediately be able to get the higher salaried job, but that just doesn't happen here. My daughter has two part time jobs, one with the state and one private. Has had 4-5 interviews for full time positions with the state, she landed one of the full time jobs. Is it in her field of study? No, but she knows it will help on her resume. She actually won't even graduate with her degree until next year. There are jobs out there.
tonto_goldberg 1 year, 2 months ago
You write that as if taking two crummy jobs just to get by was somehow a good thing. A person with a degree who can get a lot better salary somewhere else would have to REALLY like Jefferson City to take the permanent reduction in their standard of living that begins with that much lower starting salary.
All the rest of us, from local merchants on down, get caught in that same downward spiral that the General Assembly created and uses to keep taxes low for the richer folks in St. Louis and Kansas City. Why would you want your daughter to participate in that? Couldn't you drive a couple hours to see her once in a while, knowing she had a better life somewhere else?
JCLifer 1 year, 2 months ago
Yeah, those crummy jobs will not help her. Furure employers will want to know why she was unable to land a decent job in her field. They will think something was wrong with her. Better to get a job in the field during school to be able to apply learning and gain useful authentic experience. UInrelated jobs on a resume are better than none, but they can also hurt the person who has to work them instead of one in their career field.
Good jobs are out there, but not around here. She better move if she wants decent money.
jcguy25 1 year, 2 months ago
These were not crummy jobs - professional part-time positions. Although they were not directly in her field, they paid 14 per hour. Gave her experience with taking direction, meeting deadlines, references from employer of on the job attitude, professionalism, attention to detail, etc. Having been a hiring manager myself and with companies cutting workforce for the positions they do have open, job experience is the number one aspect being looked at. For the positions she did not get, the reason she was told was that they were looking for someone with more experience. The full time job she landed will gain her more experience as well as working with different software which is related to her line of study. I have no problem traveling anywhere to visit my daughter, those are her decisions to stay or move. And there are good jobs around here, myself with no degree make above the limit on this proposed pay raise and obtained the position over college grads because I had the experience.
spelchek 1 year, 2 months ago
Oh, mia....you should see who they're hiring these days. I assure you, not the description you mention. Nepotism and cronyism is alive and well with the State. If you could see what I see.
stop1 1 year, 2 months ago
Deserving a raise and affording to give a raise are two different things. Many private companies can't afford to give raises. It doesn't mean the employees don't deserve one.
I'm not sure why tobacco came up but it won’t be outlawed b/c of the amount of revenue it brings in, the government even subsidizes tobacco farmers. If you think for one minute the government taxes tobacco so high because they care about your health you are sadly mistaken! They do it b/c sin taxes are very easy to pass.
tonto_goldberg 1 year, 2 months ago
The state's financial situation is not an accident, it is the result of a decade of chipping away at the revenue base for the benefit of a long series of special interests. Now, with term limits, a politician can't even mumble in his sleep about fixing any of the problems that require money. Like a cat peering into an acquarium a politician can see it but can't do anything about it.
JCLifer 1 year, 2 months ago
Its not about deserving a raise. It is about local residents having money to spend to help support the local economy. If folks cannot afford to eat out, buy a car, build a house, go to a movie, hire a lawn mowing service, etc. these jobs will all dry up and mopre people will be unemployed or under employed.
If folks don't have money to spend, they cut back on what they give to charities and churches and the Salvation Army.
If folks don't have money to spend, the city will not collect revenues, and if the city cannot collect enough taxes, they won't be able to transform the city.
State workers pay affects a whole lot more people than just state workers.
stop1 1 year, 2 months ago
I like that JCLifer I think I’ll go to my employer ask him for a raise so I more money to spend I'll bet he goes for that. I wonder if I can get a grant based on your ideas. I think I'll go to congress asking for money so I can pay people to cut my grass and cook my meals I sure would be a great guy helping the economy and all. Actually the best thing I could do is get the government to give me enough money so I don't have to work giving me more time to spend money and really help the economy. I’m getting excited just thinking of all the ways I could help out.
JCLifer 1 year, 2 months ago
No, you will do what others do: You will quit your low-paying job and go take one somewhere else and move your family there. Why would you want to stay in Jefferson City making peanuts when you could move to Lee's Summit or St. Louis west county and double your salary?
The problem is that is what has been happening in Jefferson City for years. Our kids graduate from high school and do not come back. They can make lots more money elsewhere. That is why this town is becoming full of old people and unemployed people. That is why this place will soon be a dust town.
stop1 1 year, 2 months ago
Oh no I'll stay
evenkeel 1 year, 2 months ago
Leaving for a better situation is exactly what enterprising people ought to do. People are not trees.
mmhh 1 year, 2 months ago
I said RAISE the extremely low cigarette tax, not abolish cigarettes. Imagine what revenue would arise from a simple 20 cent increase. All that money could be designated for raises.
spelchek 1 year, 2 months ago
Ice cream tax. I see more and more people in those electric shopping carts and less and less smokers. I'll see your 20 cent increase with a 50 cent increase. Bring it...
evenkeel 1 year, 2 months ago
The best method to improve your own personal economic situation is to do one or more of the following: build your skill set, take risks (including moving), work longer, become more valuable to your employer, invest more. Looking for an increase in a tax: Obama-ish.
wyriontair 1 year, 2 months ago
Let's look to cutting the per diem pay to legislators and cutting the Department Heads and Govenor's salary and cut back on travel--in this day of technology, there does not need to be so much traveling. If traveling does need to be done, they should only get basic hotel rooms and use their own money to pay for their meals, just like the average person. Raising taxes on anything is the same old story, "if we raise the taxes on cigarettes, we'll make sure that goes to pay for raises"..or some of my favorite sayings, it'll go to education, disabled, poor, etc. If you believe that you're probably giving someone's talking-points and not doing your own research. Should state workers get raises? For those who do go the extra mile doing their jobs, definitely.
JCLifer 1 year, 2 months ago
Do the senators and representatives only get the fleet rate of 23 cents per mile like the state workers get?
That ought to be illegal to only pay cents per mile for them to drive their own personal vehicles. The IRS rate is 55 cents per mile.
No raises for 5 years. No diferred comp match. Poor reimbursement for actual travel expenses. Lame health insurance coverage. Laughable prescription drug coverage by campaign donor Express Scripts. I'll bet morale is horrible at the state.
JCLifer 1 year, 2 months ago
Meanwhile the Department of Economic Development, under the direction of the governor keeps handing out tax ctedits and corporate welfare like candy to potential campaign donors.
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