Comments on: Beshear proposes cigarette tax boost, 3-day furloughs

By: thomas grant

thomas grant — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 05:59:26 +0000

once again the smokers has to pay the taxes for the rich, and all the non smokers. Thanks so much for making sure everone has to pay their share fair. The rich will still be able to afford their alcohol and bon bons. Theres a clue, put taxes on alcohol, somethin thats NEVER been taxes.

By: Chad

Chad — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:17:20 +0000

Most citizens do not realize that inmates’ “privileges” are paid for by the inmates via profits from the jail canteen, not tax dollars. Also, states’ are limited in cutting penal budgets because of federal regulations and judicial precedence. Budget cuts to corrections are dangerous as are cuts to necessary services such as police, fire, and EMS. People want the drug dealers and thugs off the streets and in jail, but do not want to pay the price to put them there or keep them there. Please support your local corrections officers, these “unknown cops” take an oath to protect and serve the citizens of the commonwealth regardless of the sacrifice required. Thanks.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 19:55:32 +0000

Well, all I got to say is that I work approximately 12-18 weekends a year in state government, in addition to my regular work hours, because the job I do isn’t a 8-4:30 M-F job that can be closed the rest of the time (I WISHED I HAD ONE OF THOSE). So, to slap me in the face when I’m already giving up 3-4 months of my weekends a year to “the man” to keep the state looking good and helping others…let’s see how many of those weekends I work in the next year. I would say I’ll call in sick, but since it’s comp time, I don’t have to use my time since it’s an EXTRA day, there will just be a lot of cancellations and your administration, Mr. Beshear, will look bad. Looks like those salaried non-merits you hired will have to start working weekends, because I’m finished.

By: C

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:43:53 +0000

Why no cuts to prisons? You want to take $$ from education, but not from incarceration???! RELEASE NON-VIOLENT CRIMINALS, STUPID! you are willing to spend +/- $25,000 per inmate per year, but, not on a student??? this is another reason why KY is at the bottom of every list we are on— just STUPID! Commonsense isn’t common in the Commonwealth!

By: Phil Fogle

Phil Fogle — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:28:27 +0000

Why not keep the 1% slap in the face raises they pay the state workers this would be easier than having them take off 3 days without pay. They are already underpaid anyway

By: red

red — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 06:50:14 +0000

If you talk about 3 days off let do the math on the website a 175 jobs open. a av. of apay grade10 =24000*175=4,200,000.00

By: Mary

Mary — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 03:26:14 +0000

IF DAVID WILLIAMS FIGHTS AGAINST THE CIG. TAX AGAIN IN JANUARY, HE SHOULD BE, **@@**, FORCED TO LEAVE OFFICE IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE OF THE CONTINUED STRESS AND FINANCIAL BURDEN THIS WILL PUT ON KENTUCKIANS….

THE GOVERNOR WILL USE THIS TO CONTINUE HIS RAMPAGE OF CUTS, BLAMING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR NOT WORKING WITH HIM.

I SAY FIRE THEM ALL, TAKE ALL OF THEIR SALARY, EARMARKS, CORPORATE DONATIONS, CAMPAIGN FUNDS, DIVIDE ALL OF THAT MONEY BETWEEN KENTUCKIANS AND I’M SURE WE’D HAVE SOME MONEY FOR CHRISTMAS!!!!

By: Bill H

Bill H — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 02:54:23 +0000

Mary Hargis:

Why would I want to join a union when it doesn’t sound like you can do anything anyway? Walking out of a meeting – what does that solve? Tell me why I should pay my money to a union and what I get in return. I haven’t seen the unions accomplish anything yet. Workers want more money and better benefits – and if you can’t deliver that then why would I join?

Might save some money if the unions left state govt and let the workers go back to work.

By: Dennis

Dennis — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:25:17 +0000

Four steps to solving this problem. Raise the tobacco tax by 25cents per pack. This would increase revenue by $125 million based on a 10% reduction in carton volume that such an increse will cause(Remember the govs democratic buddies in Washington will be increasing cigs per carton by $6 to $7 per carton to pay for SCHIP legislation that Pres Bush vetoed this year). Add these two increases together and it increase the price of cigs by $10 per carton which will result in a significant decrease in tax revenues(30 per cent or more). Not the conditions you need when you are trying to cover a shortfall. Next raise the tax on beer and alcohol by the same percentage. This will keep you competitive with states around Ky and keep those out of staters paying Ky sales taxes on these purchases. Next raise the sales tax rate by 1/4 of 1% for three years-do NOT make it permanent,just keep it in place until the economy improves then revert back to current levels. This would amount to the consumer paying $2.50 more on a $1000.00 purchase. This move will generate more money than the tobacco and alcohol increases combined.Based on 2008 revenue so far,this will amount to $185 million just on this sales tax increase. Then cut the states budget across the board by 1%(including education). The cost savings from these four proposals amount to approximately $475 million dollars-$25 million more than the shortfall. Everyone contributes, smokers and drinkers pay more, and the budget ax does not have to cut so deeply.

By: Mary Hargis

Mary Hargis — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:34:20 +0000

I am a retired state worker who now works for the UAW as an organizer. Have you signed your membership card yet, Bill? The larger the voice the louder the sound. The Unions had a GEAC (Governor\’s Employee Advisory Council)meeting on Demeber 9th and we were told of the Governor\’s budget plan being in the works. We asked why the Unions were not involved in this as it directly affects our membership as stakeholders. We were not given a sufficient reply and the Union representatives walked out on the meeting. We have had limited success in signing state employees for various reasons (fear of retaliation, indifference, lack of knowledge in regard to Unions) but we are here and perhaps this 3 day furlough will put people to action. Remember, your bosses are elected officials. Go to the Personnel Cabinet web page, click on the GEAC heading and
help us to help you, get involved, sign a card.