vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

Political notes from Free Press staff writers Terri Hallenbeck, Sam Hemingway and Nancy Remsen

8.05.2009

$28 million in Vt. state budget cuts

Today in Montpelier, the Douglas administration released a list of $28 million in budget cuts to the Legislature's Joint Fiscal Committee. The cuts are based on how much the economists expected revenues coming into the state to shrink.

The cuts come in bits and pieces all over state government. They include $6.8 million left over from last year and $7 million in labor savings that means we'll have another dance between the union and the administration over contract concessions and if not those, then layoffs. A $565,000 cut to the Legislature would mean a shorter 2010 session.

The Joint Fiscal Committee did not vote on the plan, but has 21 days to do so.

You can read more about it in Thursday's Free Press.

- Terri Hallenbeck

Labels: politics, state budget cuts, Vermont Legisalture

posted by vt.Buzz | 4:25 PM |

Comments:

We could save $3 million by cutting Lunderville's hair product budget and his lifetime supply of shoe lifts.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:44 PM, August 05, 2009

Jim Douglas should willingly cut:
1) all of his Deputy Commissioners and Secretaries

2) all of his PR people - at least the ones he hasn't already promoted to a higher paying job.

3) then he should cut 10% from all exempt employees earning over $75,000

4)and he should cut his salary by at least 25% - he is currently in the top 10 of Governors salaries across the country.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:29 PM, August 05, 2009

Then we should abolish the Legislature. We'd save millions in both money and idiocy.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:40 PM, August 05, 2009

Cut $1.5 million from the Legislature's budget and make it a really short session. I can't think of anything that would be more helpful for the State's troubled financial picture than the Legislature not convening.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:46 AM, August 06, 2009

I totally AGREE!!!!!!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:08 AM, August 06, 2009

They could shorten the session if the Governor gave them his draft budget when the session starts.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:37 AM, August 06, 2009

Anonymous 11:37a...

You are absolutely right - Gov Douglas has since 2003 used the legislature for political purposes.

He does everything he can to make them look bad - and he has the bully pulpit to do it - and of course the media falls for it at every turn.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:08 PM, August 06, 2009

I will be very surprised if the union "dances". Let Douglas layoff more state workers, then he can take 100% responsibility for the fallout and ultimate demise of good government.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:07 PM, August 07, 2009

Jim Douglas could care less about good government - it's all about him and his image to the GOP faithful.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:51 PM, August 07, 2009

"Cut $1.5 million from the Legislature's budget and make it a really short session. I can't think of anything that would be more helpful for the State's troubled financial picture than the Legislature not convening."

Better yet: have them convene only once every 2 years. Isn't that what NH does?

"You are absolutely right - Gov Douglas has since 2003 used the legislature for political purposes.
He does everything he can to make them look bad - and he has the bully pulpit to do it - and of course the media falls for it at every turn."

They don't need the Gov's help to look bad. They do that very nicely themselves. When they stop behaving like a room full of kindergarteners, then you can complain about the Gov. using them.

By the way. Gov. Dean had the exact same attitude about the Legislature (unruly children to be chided), and it was controlled by the Dems much of the time he held office.

Maybe you should look to the Leg. as the problem, and not to the Gov.'s office.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:06 PM, August 08, 2009

Those inside the golden dome are not concerned with good government.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:40 PM, August 08, 2009

"Those inside the golden dome are not concerned with good government."

Maybe it's time to throw all the bums out.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:51 PM, August 09, 2009