PA state employees not getting paid - how is this legal?

[disney1990]

With Federal employees, they don't even have to come to work (except essential employees). When the budget finally gets passed, they get paid even though they didn't actually work.

 

[Jewel1310]

This doesn't just affect state employees. Many agencies that receive state funds are not being paid either. The agency that my sister is the executive director of is 60 - 90 days out on all state receivables. This affects her agency and could affect many of the people that receive payment through the agency (like daycare providers that receive title XX payments). It is shameless that they can't resolve this. It is no way to serve the people of PA.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I live in PA. The governor and the senate are at an impasse over the budget. The governor wants to raise the state income tax to 16% and also wants other cutbacks.

Sixteen percent. SIXTEEN percent? The next-highest state income tax is 11% (on $200,000 in Hawaii and $250,000 in New Jersey) and even those are graduated tax states.
SIXTEEN percent?????????? Can you (voters or state legislature) impeach the idiot?

 

[ginna74]

If I remember correct we didn't get paid once while in the navy.. and yes we still still had to work...we did get the pay the next payday though.

 

[jrmasm]

Sixteen percent. SIXTEEN percent? The next-highest state income tax is 11% (on $200,000 in Hawaii and $250,000 in New Jersey) and even those are graduated tax states.
SIXTEEN percent?????????? Can you (voters or state legislature) impeach the idiot?

That's not correct. He wants to raise it 16% not to 16%. There is a huge difference. 3.07 to 3.57

 

[mumom95]

I live in PA. The governor and the senate are at an impasse over the budget. The governor wants to raise the state income tax to 16% and also wants other cutbacks. The senate refuses to pass this and the governor refuses to go along with the senate's plan. It is in the state constitution that without a budget employees aren't paid as well as bills. In Philadelphia the state workers have been protesting at the governor's house, he is from here and was our mayor for two terms. This attitude from him is nothing new, I lost my benefits the first year he was in office because my DH had benefits. I believe that if the employees don't show up they risk losing their jobs. I hope the senate wins this fight though because a 16% wage tax is a huge jump from what we pay and in this economy doesn't seem like an answer. I just hope they reach an agreement soon.

See, it's this kind of thing that just ticks me off. This "It's my way or it's no way" attitude that politicians tend to have. And the problem is that they all have it, so things don't get done.

If I lived in PA, I wouldn't vote for a single incumbent this November.

 

[mumom95]

That's not correct. He wants to raise it 16% not to 16%. There is a huge difference. 3.07 to 3.57

That doesn't seem so bad.

 

[PaulaSue]

The last I head my cousin might be getting 70% of his pay. Haven't talked to his mom (dont you love FB?) since last night so not sure if he got that or it was just talk on the news.

 

[HelenePA]

From what I saw on the news this morning (when I was barely awake) they are getting paid at least 50% of their pay and I freaked out when I read this thread and saw they wanted to raise taxes to 16% I'm so glad they want to raise it only 16% talk about a heart attack!!

 

[FireDancer]

I have ceased to be surprised by anything the government does anymore. They find a way to argue with themselves long enough to not pay people so that they have to stay home and get paid after the fact for not working. Only on top of a capitol hill under a white dome does this make any logical sense.

 

[tazdev3225]

That's not correct. He wants to raise it 16% not to 16%. There is a huge difference. 3.07 to 3.57

I watch all 4 news channels in Philly and they said he wants to raise it 16% for 3 years. They could be wrong and I could have misinterpreted what they said. I don't think I am because if it were only a 16% increase on what we pay now I think a compromise could have been reached by now. I go to church with a state worker so I will ask her what she knows and respond again later today with an update from her.

 

[MushyMushy]

This is affecting quite a few people I know. The media is reporting that these people will be able to utilize food banks and get low interest loans and suck. Come on! These are our workers and we're telling them to rack up the debt and go to charity??? It's an outrage.

And yet come next election, these same people will continue to get voted in. People have short memories. Remember the whole pay raise thing a few years back? Nobody else did at the polls either.

 

[jrmasm]

I watch all 4 news channels in Philly and they said he wants to raise it 16% for 3 years. They could be wrong and I could have misinterpreted what they said. I don't think I am because if it were only a 16% increase on what we pay now I think a compromise could have been reached by now. I go to church with a state worker so I will ask her what she knows and respond again later today with an update from her.

I'm right. The number thrown around is that it only amounts to an average of $250 per person a year.

The PIT isn't the issue for most people. The issue is what the PIT is being used to fund, that in this economy taxes shouldn't be raise and that government, like households should be spending less not MORE.

It was kind of funny that Rendell was crying yesterday about the poor unemployed individuals that are being held hostage because one side won't sign a bill. He kept saying "17,000 people are being held hostage." What about the almost 90,000 state workers idiot??? I am completely sympathetic to those who are about to lose their UC benefits but I also think Fat Eddie is an absolute scumbag.

 

[onelilspark]

It's 6.85% for the "highest" rate in NY State...4% is the lowest.

So 3.57% isn't really that high. Granted no one wants their taxes raised, but it's a shame they can't come to an agreement.

And it's horrible that this isn't at all surprising to me since it happens everytime they pass a budget!

 

[tazdev3225]

I talked to my friend who works for the state. She said this happened about 20 years ago and it took until the end of august to get it resolved. They did get all of their back pay at that point. She has heard conflicting stories that the raise will be 16% on what we now or 16% total. She is out a paycheck as will be my daughter who was laid off this year and recieving UC. Either way Fast Eddie wants to raise the taxes I object. It may not hurt my DH and I too much but it will hurt my kids who are barely getting by now. The state prisons are also going to be in big trouble soon. My DH is a sheriff and transports inmates from county to state facilities. The correctional officers are not getting paid but the prisons will be out of supplies soon and will not be able to replace them. This will lead to a dangerous situation for the CO's. These tactics are not unusual for Fast Eddie, he did this to Philadelphia the 8 years he was in office here. I just hope everybody remembers this when he decides to run for president. He never hid this ambition here in Philly.

 

[Carly_Roach]

Welcome to Michigan. Nice to see you've finally arrived here at our level. No worries though; we'll show you how to get through it.

There was one post a few pages back asking how people can work when they're not getting paid. Simple answer: Because there is still a promise of a paycheck.

Any job is better than no job.

 

[jrmasm]

Welcome to Michigan. Nice to see you've finally arrived here at our level. No worries though; we'll show you how to get through it.

There was one post a few pages back asking how people can work when they're not getting paid. Simple answer: Because there is still a promise of a paycheck.

Any job is better than no job.

Surely you're not suggesting that unpaid workers shouldn't complain? Fat Eddie tried that tactic too and it didn't make him any friends.

 

[jrmasm]

I talked to my friend who works for the state. She said this happened about 20 years ago and it took until the end of august to get it resolved. They did get all of their back pay at that point. She has heard conflicting stories that the raise will be 16% on what we now or 16% total. She is out a paycheck as will be my daughter who was laid off this year and recieving UC. Either way Fast Eddie wants to raise the taxes I object. It may not hurt my DH and I too much but it will hurt my kids who are barely getting by now. The state prisons are also going to be in big trouble soon. My DH is a sheriff and transports inmates from county to state facilities. The correctional officers are not getting paid but the prisons will be out of supplies soon and will not be able to replace them. This will lead to a dangerous situation for the CO's. These tactics are not unusual for Fast Eddie, he did this to Philadelphia the 8 years he was in office here. I just hope everybody remembers this when he decides to run for president. He never hid this ambition here in Philly.

What the governor has proposed is documented. Look it up and see for youself.

 

[Carly_Roach]

Surely you're not suggesting that unpaid workers shouldn't complain? Fat Eddie tried that tactic too and it didn't make him any friends.

I've seen first hand what happens to workers who complain in a depressed economy where there are 10 people waiting to take your job who won't complain. Being right doesn't put food on the table or pay the mortgage. Until the economy changes, this is the reality of life for those of us in depressed states.

I don't know who Fat Eddie is, but having friends isn't nearly as important than having a job in a Depression.

 

[jrmasm]

I've seen first hand what happens to workers who complain in a depressed economy where there are 10 people waiting to take your job who won't complain. Being right doesn't put food on the table or pay the mortgage. Until the economy changes, this is the reality of life for those of us in depressed states.

I don't know who Fat Eddie is, but having friends isn't nearly as important than having a job in a Depression.

Did you miss the part about people not being paid in a timely manner for the work they performed?