So, following a press release condemning the Business Roundtable Committee for calling for cuts in spending, and calling for increases in taxes on businesses, it has been reported that, Speaker of the House, Rep. Pete Schwartzkop (D) 14th earlier this year approved pay raises for staff members of the House and Senate. The pay raises are between 5.6 and 16.6% . With some staffers receiving increases as high as $10,000.00 a year. This while the Legislature did away with across the board pay increases for other state employees.
So it seems that if you work close enough to Pete Schwartzkop and other legislators, then you get a raise, other wise, not so much. Average state employees have seen no pay increase for six years. And considering that the state is facing the very real possibility of a $160 million shortfall for the next fiscal year, maybe austerity cuts are a reality that we must face.
However, if there are tough choices, and sacrifices to be made, then they must be shared by all. To hand out raises to some, while freezing the wages of others is not equitable. Adding the fact that those receiving the raises are political insiders gives this the air of cronyism. One has to wonder, did the Speaker give his favorites a pat on the head when he told them they would be getting raises?
And there is blame to go around, Republican staff also received raises, House Minority Leader Danny Short was quoted in the News Journal as saying, ” it was only fair that Republicans received raises after the Democratic pay increases. “Not just your side, but our side,” he said.”
Or better translated, “If you’re getting yours, I’m getting mine.”
This is no way to lead. We cannot condemn the Democrats, if we are simply going to blame them for our actions.
This demonstrates a total disconnect from the real world that too many of our legislators suffer from. In a previous release, Mr. Schwartzkopf spoke of taking actions within a vacuum. It would seem that he is living in a vacuum, one where he thinks that he is above reproach, that he can with the stroke of a pen grant some prosperity, while telling the rest of us, that we must sacrifice more for the good of the all. He would raise taxes on businesses, an act that would negatively affect the working class ultimately, saying that they must give more.
For what? So that politicos can be rewarded? This is nothing but a ruling elite gone mad.
Here is a link to the News Journal article detailing the raises.
One correction, Rep. Scheartzkopf raised the pay for the House Staff, and Sen. Blevins Raised the pay for the Senate Staff.
People are so sick and tired of these politicians. Any outsider would really have a good chance at winning public office this coming election…..oh wait…. Uh-oh. I hope Lacey isn’t reading this.
The hubris of one party rule where there is no viable alternative
This is unbelievable. Well, not really. After all, this is a state where the biggest employer is the state.
Of course, it is a long-standing tradition of the socialist-leftist elite to live well while the people who pay for their extravagance suffer. See USSR, Cuba, Venezuela and so on.
Of course, Delaware is nirvana for Socialist-Democrats. An ever-expanding government with no real opposition, just frivolous “cross-the-aisle” back slapping.
Once enough Democrats retire and flee their high-tax states and move to Sussex (and bring their voting patterns with them), a total one-party legislature will be assured. Then, the dream of Delaware Socialist-Democrats can reach fruition- a sales tax. Then the government can really grow.
What happens in the long run when the money finally runs out? Well, like the father of deficit spending, John Maynard Keynes, once said, “in the long run, we’ll all be dead.”
But future generations will be very much alive. And they will pay.
State government salaries have been shrinking for a number of years
State government salaries have been shrinking for a number of years
Prove it.
Prove it, lol. There have been no raises during this administration and every year health costs and inflation go up for state employees. That by definition is a shrinking salary. But I know math is liberal biased along with science lol
“People are so sick and tired of these politicians” Really? They keep getting re-elected, so I’m thinking “not so much…”