Made by Top Senate Democrat
State Unions Pan Job-Cut Proposal

By REUVEN BLAU

The two largest state-employee unions last week blasted the State Senate Democratic Conference's proposal to eliminate 6,000 state jobs by attrition, calling the plan another example of "shortsighted political grandstanding."

DANNY DONOHUE: This turkey can't fly.

Senate Minority Leader Malcolm A. Smith Nov. 20 announced a $2-billion initiative to help reduce the projected $4-billion deficit in the 2008-09 state budget "while at the same time protecting health-care, education, and transportation."

Expects $600M Savings

The plan includes five specific budget proposals, but it was the suggestion of using the attrition of non-essential jobs to save a projected $600 million next year that drew the unions' ire.

The Civil Service Employees Association and the Public Employees Federation slammed that proposal, which was announced two days before Thanksgiving at a press conference in Albany.

"New York should be embracing new and forward-thinking proposals to better manage the state finances, not retreating to failed policies of the past," said CSEA President Danny Donohue in a press release. "It's fitting that the Senate Democrats chose Thanksgiving week to trot out this turkey."

KEN BRYNIEN: Picked wrong target.

PEF President Ken Brynien also questioned the initiative, arguing that cutting 6,000 state jobs would actually cost taxpayers more money. "The state should instead be concentrating on filling vacancies in state government, thereby reducing the use of high-priced private contractors," he said.

Pataki's Shell Game

PEF and the CSEA have long contended that former Governor Pataki reduced headcount by instead relying on costly and unprofessional contractors.

The unions also pointed out that Governor Spitzer's current budget actually increased the state workforce by nearly 2,500 employees.

"Governor Eliot Spitzer along with the Legislature recognized the need to boost the state's depleted workforce this past spring after years of neglect left too many agencies unable to do the jobs expected of them," Mr. Donohue said.

MALCOLM A. SMITH: Plan rapped by unions.

The Senate Democratic Conference's plan also calls for a delay in new, non-essential capital spending, which would save a projected $120 million next year. The proposal suggests that the state's public authorities use attrition savings to reduce their budgets to create $525 million in savings.

Mr. Smith also recommended that the state draw down from its "rainy-day fund" while retaining sufficient assets to meet future needs as a way of generating $375 million in added revenue. The Senate Democrat's final proposal suggested increased Medicaid fraud collections and care management for diabetes, heart disease and obesity to create $380 million in savings.

'Belong in Discussion'

"Collectively these proposals ... must be part of the initial discussion when working with the Governor and all other legislators as they move towards meeting next year's fiscal needs," Mr. Smith said.

The Senate Democrats also proposed that the state encourage early retirement with a buy-out plan in select jobs.

Mr. Brynien, however, questioned the plan to identify 6,000 "non-essential" employees. "Would that be a nurse, a therapy aide, an engineer, a bridge inspector?" he asked. "It seems the Senate Minority Leader needs to be reminded of the real value state employees are to state taxpayers."