State Gov't Closing?

[Nicki Laycoax]

What do you think about the Indiana State Government closing indefinitely if a budget is not passed?

From Indy Star: http://blogs.indystar.com/politics/2009/06/personnel_director_sends...

[Nicki Laycoax]

I say indefinte because of the message that State workers are to leave on their voicemail and email in the case that a budget is not passed:
"Indiana state government offices are currently closed and will remain closed for an indefinite period of time due to the failure of The Indiana General Assembly to pass a budget by June 30."

What things might it put into perspective? It seems unfair to generalize all State employees, saying that they just go in and collect a paycheck, and wish for a shut down on them. The department I worked in was far from a bunch of slackers... Not to mention we/they were severely underpaid...

[David Bagdade]

Wow...I don't often find myself agreeing with Chris, but I do now, at least to an extent. I don't necessarily accept the sweeping generalization, as Nicki points out, but I do feel (a) that there are a lot of unmotivated people occupying jobs in state (and federal) government, and that their lack of motivation translates to an "I-don't-give-a-damn-about-you-or-your-problem" attitude when they are so unreasonably called upon to perform their required functions, and (b) not much increases a person's motivation to do their job like the prospect of losing that job.

[Patrick Sullivan]

That's right, doggone it! Nothing boosts the spirits and drive of generally underpaid and apparently under-appreciated workers like threatening to fire them; nothing gets things done faster than a work environment built on fear, uncertainty and doubt! The beatings will continue until moral improves!

At the federal level, eight years of administrative contempt for government and the employees who make it run -both by obstructing their missions (SEC and the Joint Banking Agencies, anyone?) and installing managers with no meaningful people skills (you can pretty much pick a department) destroyed employee moral and motivation, and damaged the agencies' ability to be effective. But, that's really no different from any toxic workplace...

As for state shutdowns, don't think they only affect state employees:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/30/AR2...

[Nicki Laycoax]

Speaking from experience, there is no way that a 10 year old could do the jobs in the Department of Workforce Development. They are totally under-appreciated and underpaid. When I was there, there were people that came in to work over-time to keep the backlog of unemployment claims down. They weren't only doing the ones that they were assigned, but also helping with the load that new employees and employees that just couldn't keep up because of the amount of claims that were filed couldn't handle. These were people that had been employed with the State for anywhere from 8-15 years and only made $16/hr max. That is underpaid.

Claims Deputies are not only responsible for getting people paid their unemployment insurance benefits in a timely fashion, but also detecting fraudulent claims, and attending hearings when the decisions are disputed. This is not work that a 10 year old is able to do.

I'm not sure what department of the Government you are referring to, but DWD can't possibly be one of them...

[George Roots]

The work that people do does not always determine how they are paid. The famous Warren Buffet said that he's lucky society values his profession. I was a contractor at the state making 3 to 4 times what people made who worked as hard if not harder. I will agree there are some who aren't motivated, but try motivating me with 10/hr....good luck and godspeed.

[Jim Brown]

Good luck with your argument Chris. While I agree with everything you've said in this thread... you're wasting your time.

[Patrick Sullivan]

Chris your point about appreciation and compensation is circular- reminds me of an old example we used to use in logic class to illustrate begging the question: "Teachers don't deserve more pay; they're paid what they're worth." "How do you know?" "Well, look at how much they're paid."

As for my shots at the former administration, your "they're all equally bad" argument is also one of those examples of nonsequiter we used to go over in logic class.

I suggest that, if you have better answers, you should either apply for a state job and aim for management (so you can correct the performance problems you see), or run for office (so you can fix the systemic problems from the inside, since "voting the bums out" doesn't seem to be working for you).

[Patrick Sullivan]

Well, looks like it won't happen. But... Having been in Washington during the budget showdown, and federal government shutdown, in December 1995 and January 1996, I can offer some reflection. I knew a lot of federal employees, and the furlough was not pleasant for them and their families. "Indefinite" is the appropriate term, and from spending days watching the proceedings to see when folks (including my then wife) were going to go back to work was pretty intense. Still, the shutdown was an inevitable result of intransigence in the Republican controlled Congress. The House, under Gingrich, kept shouting (bleating?) for a balanced budget scored on CBO numbers. Clinton finally offered one and they rejected it before it hit the table for review. At that point, everybody knew the issue wasn't money, it was ideology. The House Republicans looked like fools, and as state unemployment benefits were about to run out (first in Kansas) word came down from the Senate (guess who?) to call it a day. It was brilliant. As you probably recall, Clinton ended his two terms with a balanced budget and a huge surplus.

Daniels learned the lesson from Clinton that Bauer ignored, especially when Daniels put state employees, parks (the weekend of the 4th) and gambling on the line. Anything the Democrats did past that point to delay a settlement made them look worse by the minute. As soon as the shutdown card was played, with nothing to offer other than a hold-your-ground strategy, they lost. At least, though, they were up front about the ideological differences (and right about some of them, but there's always next year) and money as the issue (and Daniels had a point there)...

Governments do things that are necessary- despite what you might believe, Chris- so it's better for everyone when they stay open. And they employ people to get these things done who are dedicated to the missions of their agencies and to the effective performance of their jobs. Shutdowns over budget differences hurt these people along with recipients of services that get shut off. I'm glad it was avoided. In the end, though, our legislators came off looking like the gang that couldn't shoot straight; it was a horrible session for the most part. I'm a cradle Democrat, but it's time for Bauer to move on.

[Michael R.]

How many of you who have commented in this thread have worked for an Indiana gov't agency?

I have worked at three:

Marion County Health Dept.
Secretary of State of Indiana
Indiana Dept. of Revenue--current position

[George Roots]

I was a contractor for 6 months

[Nicki Laycoax]

I have-DWD

[Jim Brown]

As an employer of 5, I do quite a bit of work for the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. Can't stand them.