Wolf SEIU Deal Gives $5G Annual Raises
When I joined the PA State Senate in 2014, I went to Harrisburg with specific and focused goals.
Among them, to end the reckless spending and the culture of self-serving politicians in Harrisburg.
Last week, Governor Wolf provided a perfect demonstration of both.
This past Friday, Penn Live reported the details of a new three-year labor contract between the State of Pennsylvania and SEIU Local 668.
Under this contract, public sector workers who are currently making $40,502 per year, will enjoy an increase of $5,000 per year over the three-year term of the contract – for a total additional cost to the taxpayers of $45 million per year.
Maybe the increased wage levels are reasonable and maybe they are not, but what’s definitely not reasonable is that Governor Wolf negotiated this contract alone.
Governor Wolf excluded members of the House and Senate from those negotiations, and the reason could not be more obvious: Governor Wolf’s taxpayer-provided “gift” to public sector union workers will serve him well as he seeks reelection – whether the PA taxpayer can afford it or not.
But that’s not the worst part.
Based on my calculations, the contract negotiated results in approximately $1.8 billion of additional retirement pension pay outs over 20 years.
It’s a gigantic, extremely irresponsible promise for the Governor to make with your money.
It must have slipped his mind that Harrisburg has already promised more in the way of pension payouts than we can afford to make good on.
It’s called “the pension crisis” – and Governor Wolf is deliberately ignoring it.
When I was growing up, I often heard people say that money doesn’t grow on trees.
I have to wonder what kind of trees Governor Wolf thinks grow in the back yards of Pennsylvania taxpayers.
I’ll keep saying it – Harrisburg does not have a revenue problem, Harrisburg has a spending problem.
Trust me when I tell you, when I’m Governor, we’ll end this recklessness, and replace it with justified, responsible management of tax money.
November of 2018 cannot come soon enough.
P.S.
You might be surprised to know that workers covered under this taxpayer-funded contract only work 37.5 hours per week, but are expected to receive an increase of $5,000 annually.
If you would like to read the full Penn Live article, please click here:
http://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/04/seiu_local_668_finalizes_three.html
Sen. Wagner represents the 28th District in the Pennsylvania Senate.
Senator Wagner’s fiscal positions seem sound. That said, until he changes his positions in support of the bathroom bills and HB76, he won’t get MY vote!
True dat
So, do you prefer Governor Wolf? I think I’m going to take the half-loaf myself since I think he can be reasoned with (not pushed).
Of COURSE not, but there MUST be other Republicans who would be able to primary Senator Wagner. Why should we take half a loaf? We have months to come up with someone else unless Wagner changes his tune on these damaging bills.
Well, Turzai Is rumored to be considering a run, if you want him. http://www.politicspa.com/turzai-opens-door-for-gov-bid/82416/
Or check out Paul Mango: http://www.politicspa.com/mango-no-longer-with-mckinsey-company/82528/
How did we ever elect this guy?
Getting rid of the unions or punishing state employees is not the answer. The answer us that the Administration must become more responsible in its fiscal management of taxpayer money, to include becoming more concerned for the accuracy of welfare benefits to the public, less concerned with the current state of mind of keeping clients happy at whatever the cost. The attitude,”If in doubt, pay it out” must be eliminated !
Punishing taxpayers is the answer LOL. It’s always the answer.