Sign the Online Petition to Stop Government Censorship
LD 1353, “An Act Regarding Salary Information for Public
Employees,” would censor the taxpayer-paid salaries of
some 90,000 Maine government, school and other public employees, trampling the
right of the public to review how their hard-earned tax dollars are spent by
local and state officials. Censoring the names of public employees opens
the door for massive taxpayer-paid bonuses, salary hikes and secret deals to
occur in the shadows, because this vital information would become inaccessible
to citizens and the media.
Sign the online petition
stating your opposition to this government censorship.
Stop Complaining Mainers!
Posted on Apr 14, 2009
Yes, I work for the government. I don't care if you know how much I make and I'm proud of it. In fact one of my favorite things to do is rub it in the face of "green with envy" Mainers who couldn't stand a successful person even if it was them! This state has an inferiority complex that leads us all to accept mediocrity and we are all more than willing to wallow with each other. Funny how no one EVER asks me what I do or how I get my job done...just the fact that I make more than their lazy, underachieving butts. I have no problem with this list because Mainers are just a bunch of complaining cry-babies, no one will ever act because it takes too much effort!
TE
Posted on Apr 14, 2009
As a State employee I am torn over this. Yes, it is OUR right to know how the State spends our money. However is it not also MY right to not share how much I earn? Maybe not since I'm a public service employee. But what if I owned stock in your company, do I get to know how much you earn specifically? There are always two sides to everything. I feel very fortunate to have my job with the State. I have been unemployed before, actually shortly before I got my job here. I did not qualify for any government benefits during that time. Even having to support my kids half time. There is more wrong than just the State Employee's salaries. Will you ask how much Jane Doe got in government benefits from the State? Why she has a kid every year, doesn't work, why her boy friend is living with her, and they drive a new SUV, living in Section 8 housing with a flat screen TV, 3 game systems & a top notch computer? Now I know this example is out there... but I've seen it first hand. It makes me wonder what I am doing wrong that even working full time for the State I can't afford my home, a used car, more than 1 hand me down TV, a 5 year old game system for my kids, a computer that's out of date, no cable and no Christmas gifts this past year. I get along with my ex and he provides half their needs so that I don't qualify for any help. It's disturbing to me how much I work when others just seem to ride our coat tails. Sorry for the rant. Just remember that as a State employee I'm paying for my salary, my family & friends who work for the state too, as well as Jane Doe & her kids as much as a non-state employee does. So I am still torn and sad that things have come down to attacking state employees, their salaries, & benefits.
Mark Turek
Posted on Apr 22, 2009
Hmmmm, I wonder if that post was entered on taxpayer’s time? While the majority of state employees are likely to be fully honest, there is that group (10% +/-) which does little more than waste tax dollars. Those are the people which should be fired, but that would require a management team which isn't cozy with their campaign buddies at the MSEA-SEIU. In addition, this effort would require a backbone...don't hold your breath for either requirement.
TaxPayingTeacher
Posted on Apr 23, 2009
As a teacher for the state I work 224 days to earn my salary that is comparable to a public teacher that works 180 days per year. That equates to about a $10,000.00 difference in salary for the same job, however I teach for the department of corrections so my job has many different responsibilities above and beyond maintaining a teachers certificate, required by the state at my expense, lesson plans that meet the MLR, and offering safety and security to juvenile offenders (no stress there). By the way I am only paid for the days I work, no holidays, no paid vacations, on top of that my insurance benefits are about to be cut and since the School Consolidation Law passed my local teachers will be getting an average of a $14,000.00 per year raise at my property tax expense, which gives them $24,000.00 more per year than I make. Yes to answer your next question I will accept a public school teachers job when the opening appears. These comments are on my own time.
TaxPayingTeacher
Posted on Apr 28, 2009
Also, I don't mind sharing my salary info, look up my job and my benefits, you have a right to know, however I believe I have a right not to have my name attached, which can be used to track where I live etc. $48,000 with $30,000 benefit package. If you think that's too much, walk a day in my shoes, or 224 of them.