Republicans were ready to block Kansans from getting their paychecks!

[tblue37]

Here in Kansas, we were told that we state employees (I teach at KU) might not get our paychecks this week—or for some time to come.

Why not?

Because the Republicans, who control the state legislature, were blackmailing Gov. Sebelius. They wanted her to sign a budget that contained draconian cuts to education, far more draconian than she was willing to accept. Since taxes are mostly not collected yet, the sate is having a temporary cash-flow problem. In the past, a temporary loan from other state funds has allowed the state to function normally until tax receipts would accumulate. This is just how it always is at this time of the year, just before tax season.

But this time the Repubs, playing political chicken, insisted that she do things their way, or they would shut down the state.

Sort of as Gingrich did with Clinton.

Arnold is having a similar problem with the Repub legislature in California. They are forcing him to essentially shut down the state ebcause they won't pass an interim budget.

And, of course, we have this bullstuff with the Republicans and the stimulus bill.

What the Kansas Repubs don’t get is that even in Republican Kansas, a lot of employees work for the state, and if they have to worry that the Repubs will let them go for two weeks or several two-week periods without their paychecks, they are not going to be proud of the Repubs for “standing on principle.” They are going to be pissed because their water or electricity or gas was shut off for nonpayment. Or because they can’t buy food or gas to get to work.

Things are tight. People are living from paycheck to paycheck. Most people cannot afford to miss one paycheck, much less two or more. Yet the Republidopes were prepared to let all state employees go without a paycheck in order to blackmail Sebelius into signing their version of the budget, with no compromise.

I would have been OK for a couple of checks, because I live very frugally, but most, especially those with kids, would not be OK. I think the Repubs have tin ears for the people’s mood these days.

Sebelius finally got them to compromise some, and she signed a bill today:
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2009/feb/17/governor-plans-tuesday-afternoon-press-conference-/

[elizfeelinggreat]

1. wow

I don't think they have tin ears, I think they have been spoiled by the media.

The media will cover for them and then blame the Democrats. Also, they seem to assume that anything that happens while Obama is president will be blamed on him.

[ronnykmarshall]

2. Fuckers are doing it in California

Only three republicans voted for the budget and we need one more. The gop overthrew the gop minority leader that was working the democrats and Arnie ... they don't give a shit.

[tblue37]

3. Yep--I mention the CA situation in my OP. nt

[DURHAM D]

4. As a native Kansan I have a question?

Do you think this standoff has made the Gov more or less popular? I have not talked to my Repub relatives lately but I know that they have always liked her.

[tblue37]

Self-delete dupe.

[tblue37]

6. Far more popular.

A few years ago the Kansas Supreme Court forced the state into a multi-year commitment to spend large amounts of additional money on education, because certain school districts were woefully underfunded. This mandated funding pissed off the Repubs in the legislature, and they've been desperately looking for ways to cut back one education funding.

During the recent legislative sessions to pass the budget, the Repubs, who have control, insisted on straight across-the-board cuts. The Dems wanted to set priorities--cutting more where it would do less harm, and less where essential services and functions were concerned--especially protecting education funds. The Repubs insisted that education funds be cut as much as all other funds.

Sebelius was, of course, very much against this. The budget the Repubs tried to force her to sigh by way of this blackmail tactic included major cuts to schools. She finally managed to reduce by half the cuts they wanted to make, though the cuts are still uncomfortable.

People have kids. Western Kansas, a Repub stronghold, is a part of the state that will be hit especially hard by these cuts.

I think Kansas may turn a tad bluer in the next election.

[DURHAM D]

15. I think you are right about turning a little bluer.

I know that all of my extended family voted for Obama because they saw him as very moderate. Frankly, everyone in the middle of the state seems very moderate - they just have a life long habit of identifying as Repub.

Also, everyone I know from the middle of the state is really vested in good public education. Four generations of my family have served on their local school boards and they all always support the school bonds. The only exception is my stupid brother-in-law who annually has a cow over ad valorem taxes and the public library tax in their county.

On the other hand, he voted for Obama. But really, he is just stupid about the importance of and necessity of funding good schools because he is not a native of Kansas. When he gets started on the property taxes my sister just tells him to be quiet and sends him to the basement.

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. The far right idiots still hate her and throw every roadblock they can her way

The good news is the moderates have figured this out and they greatly outnumber the far right.

[valerief]

5. All those guns and all those money-stealing Republicans. Funny how

they don't get in each other's way.

[tanyev]

7. Do none of them remember that Gingrich's attempts to shut down government backfired on him?

Idjits.

[tblue37]

8. Repubs are quite proud of their ignorance of history--and just

about every other subject under the sun. After all, their base admires ignorance and thinks intelligence and education are liberal elitist vices.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. No, no worker is EVER okay without a paycheck!!

Here is the email Larry Gates sent out this afternoon:

Dear proud2blibKansan,

Thanks to your passionate responses yesterday, Republican leaders in the Kansas legislature were forced to backtrack on their hard-line stance toward the state's budget.

Kansas Democrats made it known that we would not stand idly by while Republican leaders held devoted public servants hostage to advance their partisan objectives.

As the party's Chairman, I watched with pride as Democrats stood against the political games of the Republican legislative leadership and defended our state's dedicated public servants. The voice of the people has once again triumphed over worn-out Republican political tricks.

We featured a petition on our website in order to ensure 40,000 hardworking Kansans receive the pay they earned. In a matter of hours, over 1,600 of you signed the petition and shared your personal stories.

I would like to thank each and every one of you who shared your thoughts yesterday. To the thousands of families now receiving their paychecks on Friday, you made all the difference.

Sincerely,

Larry Gates
Chairman
Kansas Democratic Party

P.S. - Over 1,600 of you signed our petition to ensure 40,000 hardworking Kansans receive the pay they earned. Here are some of my personal favorites:

Eleanor in Topeka wrote: "The Republican Party's political maneuvering is bringing ridicule to our state. But more importantly it's imposing additional anxiety and hardship on citizens already seriously stressed by the economy. It's time to show some mature leadership and allow the state to function as efficiently as possible."

Sara from Lawrence said: "Republicans should be thinking about their actions and how they affect the people they represent. Using the civil servants of Kansas as leverage is unconscionable."

David from Pittsburg wrote: "The GOP should be watching out for Kansans, not escorting them to the poor house. As citizens, we have lived up to our obligations by putting in a hard days work and should be paid for our efforts. By not paying your debts the message is loud and clear that you do not care about the people who live and work in or for the state of Kansas."

[tblue37]

11. I meant I would be able to survive a couple of weeks even if they delayed our pay.

I "live poor." I was desperately poor following my divorce, and I had a 21-month old and a 3 1/2-year-old at the time of the divorce.

My kids are grown now, but until last February, my son still needed my help a lot, and my daughter still does, so even though I have a steady salary 9 1/2 months out of the year, and it's more than the $17000/year I used to make as recently as 4 years ago (not much, but still a bit more), I have never gotten out of the habit of living on that tiny amount. That leaves me a small cushion to save a bit to survive the summer when I have no salary and to send money to my daughter when she needs help.

I couldn't wait long, but I could wait the two weeks to get paid if they delayed one paycheck. Would not like it, but would not starve or have any utilities turned off.

I would start getting into that sort of serious trouble if it went past two weeks, though.

I was not suggesting it would be in any way okay to do that to workers--including me. I think it would be criminal. I was just sympathizing with those who are in a worse position than I am in for surviving such a delay.

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. I understand

And I could probably get by for a week or two as well.

But no worker should EVER have to face this and it is despicable that the repukes in Topeka even mentioned it.

No paycheck would most definitely get me out on a picket line, even if it is illegal for teachers to strike. I would go to jail before I would let them EVER not pay me.

[tblue37]

12. BTW, Proud2B, I have been thinking about you and your

activism during this whole blackmail scenario. I was quite sure that you and Mabus (and evlbstrd) would be as furious about it as I was, and I was pretty sure that you guys would be manning the phones and sending off activist letters and emails.

I was very glad to meet you guys that time at Old Chicago. Maybe sometime we can get together again.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. Yes that was fun at Old Chicago

As for this budget 'crisis', I signed a petition and sent a few emails and was glad to see it settled.

It was nothing but political theater by the repukes.

Are you coming to Washington Days?

[tblue37]

No, I can't spare any time from my 10-hour days grading papers that the Republicans think

I should not get paid for in a timely fashion. I just got 4 more sets of essays in (about 70 hours' worth of grading), and I don't do much of anything but grade papers for at least a week after I get them in.

Also, I have standing tutoring sessions all weekend.

I wish I could go, but the truth is I am much too deaf to enjoy large group activities, so even if I didn't have so much work to do, I would shy away from such events. (IOW, the work is an excuse--I wouldn't go anyway--because of the deafness.) I like to read about such things after the fact, though, so I hope you post about it in the Kansas forum.

[tblue37]

16. Self-delete dupe.

[Lil Missy]

17. That backfired on Gingrich when he did that with Clinton.

That was a turning point for me, when I knew for sure Repubs were a bunch of rotten bastards.

[tblue37]

18. Republican Kansans who worried about whether they would get their paychecks this

week will not thank their Republican representatives, either, for almost causing those checks to be withheld.