There's an article out this afternoon which describes Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan as the worst governor in the USA due to her draconian and somewhat erratic rules issued in her state to deal with the virus. Whitmer banned sales of things like seeds in large stores at just the time when gardens need to be planted. Residents who want to grow their own food in their gardens can't do so unless they buy the seeds in smaller stores. That means someone who buys groceries in Walmart which is the largest supermarket chain in Michigan can't buy seeds for the garden while they are already at the store. On the other hand, if a smaller hardware store sells seeds and remains open, it's fine to make a special trip there to buy only the seeds. That's crazy.
Despite Whitmer's crazy orders, though, I don't think she is the worst governor in the USA. That title still belongs to Ned Lamont of the great state of Connecticut. Just today, Lamont called on the federal government to bail out the state because it can't continue to spend at the current rate without help. It was a typical Lamont lament. He needs more money, more money and more money. The one thing Lamont never says, though, is that the state government will have to spend less on less important items. It's not that I disagree with Lamont on which items he chooses to cut. Rather, it is that Lamont has not once during his term in office even proposed a cut to anything done by the state government.
According to the Yankee Institute, there are over a dozen state taxes collected in CT for which the cost of collection exceeds the amount collected. A rational government would drop those taxes and SAVE money. Not Lamont; he won't consider that. Only Republicans favor tax cuts.
Connecticut has a pension system for state employees that actually pays retired employees more than comparable workers get when they are still working, and multiples of what private sector workers get once retired. These state employees are seemingly never furloughed; they just stay on the payrolls no matter what the economic situation. Surely, during these days of corona virus shutdowns, there are state employees whose services are no longer needed. State pension reform and cutbacks in the state workforce would go a long way towards giving Connecticut the funds it needs to meet the present emergency. That concept is never mentioned by governor failure, excuse me governor Lamont.
Americans are being asked to surrender their jobs, their businesses, their livelihoods to protect those who are at risk from the virus. It is a burden that we all have to share. Shouldn't the state government and its employees also share in this sacrifice? Many years ago, it was the case that state workers made less than those in private industry. That changed decades ago, and now the disparity is very large, especially in Connecticut. When it comes time for sacrifice shouldn't the well off state employees at least share some of the burden?
A rational governor would explore this issue. Lamont know only how to keep asking for more money and to blame others. That's not a leader; it's a child.
Despite Whitmer's crazy orders, though, I don't think she is the worst governor in the USA. That title still belongs to Ned Lamont of the great state of Connecticut. Just today, Lamont called on the federal government to bail out the state because it can't continue to spend at the current rate without help. It was a typical Lamont lament. He needs more money, more money and more money. The one thing Lamont never says, though, is that the state government will have to spend less on less important items. It's not that I disagree with Lamont on which items he chooses to cut. Rather, it is that Lamont has not once during his term in office even proposed a cut to anything done by the state government.
According to the Yankee Institute, there are over a dozen state taxes collected in CT for which the cost of collection exceeds the amount collected. A rational government would drop those taxes and SAVE money. Not Lamont; he won't consider that. Only Republicans favor tax cuts.
Connecticut has a pension system for state employees that actually pays retired employees more than comparable workers get when they are still working, and multiples of what private sector workers get once retired. These state employees are seemingly never furloughed; they just stay on the payrolls no matter what the economic situation. Surely, during these days of corona virus shutdowns, there are state employees whose services are no longer needed. State pension reform and cutbacks in the state workforce would go a long way towards giving Connecticut the funds it needs to meet the present emergency. That concept is never mentioned by governor failure, excuse me governor Lamont.
Americans are being asked to surrender their jobs, their businesses, their livelihoods to protect those who are at risk from the virus. It is a burden that we all have to share. Shouldn't the state government and its employees also share in this sacrifice? Many years ago, it was the case that state workers made less than those in private industry. That changed decades ago, and now the disparity is very large, especially in Connecticut. When it comes time for sacrifice shouldn't the well off state employees at least share some of the burden?
A rational governor would explore this issue. Lamont know only how to keep asking for more money and to blame others. That's not a leader; it's a child.
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