Richie Farmer Needs To Reconsider Furlough Stance. I AGREE!
Farmer needs to reconsider furlough stance
By the Daily News
Our elected leaders should lead by example. That’s what those who put them into office expect and want.
That is why we find it troublesome that Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer is refusing to participate in furloughs that most state workers, including many in his own department, are taking this fiscal year to save the state an estimated $24 million.
Most state workers are taking six mandatory unpaid furlough days this year, with more furloughs expected next year.
As an elected official and the top person in his department, Mr. Farmer should share in the sacrifice that employees below him are making.
Farmer, who makes $110,346 a year, says that he doesn’t believe in the furlough concept and that is why he isn’t participating.
No one likes furloughs, but isn’t it better to inflict a little pain on everybody rather than have the burden fall entirely on state workers selected for layoffs?
We believe Farmer needs to reconsider his ill-advised decision. In politics, perception is everything and as a candidate for lieutenant governor, this stance does nothing but hurt Farmer, who is paired with Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, in the governor’s race.
While elected officials in the state are prohibited from changing their salaries while in office, Farmer could easily follow the example of other constitutional officers, including the governor, who are giving personal checks to the state treasury or donating money to a charity for the same amount as the salary for furlough days.
It simply doesn’t seem fair that while state employees are sucking it up and taking their furloughs that Farmer is taking a pass.
Kentucky Association of State Employees President David Smith said his organization opposes furloughs as unnecessarily hurtful to state workers, but said if it had to happen, then all elected officials should participate.
Smith is correct about elected officials, but we would remind him that those he represents are not experiencing anything that many private sector employees haven’t experienced.
During these tough economic times, Farmer and Smith shouldn’t have to be reminded that we are all in this together.
By the Daily News
Our elected leaders should lead by example. That’s what those who put them into office expect and want.
That is why we find it troublesome that Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer is refusing to participate in furloughs that most state workers, including many in his own department, are taking this fiscal year to save the state an estimated $24 million.
Most state workers are taking six mandatory unpaid furlough days this year, with more furloughs expected next year.
As an elected official and the top person in his department, Mr. Farmer should share in the sacrifice that employees below him are making.
Farmer, who makes $110,346 a year, says that he doesn’t believe in the furlough concept and that is why he isn’t participating.
No one likes furloughs, but isn’t it better to inflict a little pain on everybody rather than have the burden fall entirely on state workers selected for layoffs?
We believe Farmer needs to reconsider his ill-advised decision. In politics, perception is everything and as a candidate for lieutenant governor, this stance does nothing but hurt Farmer, who is paired with Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, in the governor’s race.
While elected officials in the state are prohibited from changing their salaries while in office, Farmer could easily follow the example of other constitutional officers, including the governor, who are giving personal checks to the state treasury or donating money to a charity for the same amount as the salary for furlough days.
It simply doesn’t seem fair that while state employees are sucking it up and taking their furloughs that Farmer is taking a pass.
Kentucky Association of State Employees President David Smith said his organization opposes furloughs as unnecessarily hurtful to state workers, but said if it had to happen, then all elected officials should participate.
Smith is correct about elected officials, but we would remind him that those he represents are not experiencing anything that many private sector employees haven’t experienced.
During these tough economic times, Farmer and Smith shouldn’t have to be reminded that we are all in this together.
Labels: News reporting
posted by KYJurisDoctor at 12:18 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home