If State employees received a cost of living allowance (COLA) this year, I don't know anybody who is aware of it. Indeed, we were told that we would be receiving a 4% COLA in June, 2008. In approximately early June we were told there would be no COLA after all.

We have been told that our monthly health insurance payments are going to be raised;
we were then told that our health insurance coverage will be reduced;
we are now being told to expect a decrease in pay.

Effectively:

Our cost of living increase was removed shortly before we were told our cost of living is going to be raised (due to health insurance rate increase) while our health insurance coverage is going to be reduced (literally paying more to get less) and our pay will be decreased (so the State can pay less to get more).

It's funny how the government can righteously defend that which it would fine ordinary citizens.

It's good to be the king I guess.

Don't worry about the kids being educated in one of the most poorly funded education systems in America, just cut more funding from education and all will be fine. Forget the supposed 'need' for public safety, let law enforcement work for less. 'Morale'? Hmmm... not really necessary. State employees will do the job, for less, and LIKE it! Nevermind contracts or binding obligations, if the Governor does it, it must be legal (and morally appropriate).

Hey, I know: let's tax the casinos more! Nevermind that tough times for them will mean even tougher times for us... let's just become MORE dependent upon their revenue streams. THAT should fix everything! There must be blood in that turnip!

So we have a state with a major revenue resource being a tourist and prosperity tax: significantly tax the gaming industry whose primary income comes from tourists.

But the economy takes a dump and the tourists quit coming. What does this guy advocate? Tax the gaming industry MORE. So, if I understand this correctly, we should become MORE dependent on the success of the casinos? Even though that has been proven to be catastrophic in hard times?!

But now we must "tighten our belts". What does this guy do? He takes away the cost of living increase for State employees! Then he tells us he is going to increase our cost of living by raising health insurance rates and reducing benefits. NOW he adds that he wants to reduce what we already make!

How about making the developers who made the cost of land skyrocket finish their projects like any individual would have to, even though it hurts, instead of exempting them from the required city improvements that go with their contracts for a start?!