VSEA.org

"On an annual basis, full-time state and local employee government employees in Michigan are undercompensated by approximately 5.3% compared with similar private sector workers."

"Nicholas Johnson, head of the center’s State Fiscal Project, said the meltdown of so many state budgets has far more to do with falling revenues and climbing expenses in other areas than it does with employee benefits."

"In all, Shumlin is spending $400,000 more than Douglas on top execs, and he’s not done hiring yet."

VSEA is hoping the Governor’s office will issue a statement clarifying the increases and the reasons they happened, especially in the current economic climate.

"But bankruptcy would fight fire with gasoline, spreading instability to the bond markets, scaring off investors who might think they would never get repaid, and making it much harder and more expensive for states to raise desperately needed capital. Some bond experts say even talk of allowing states to declare bankruptcy has rattled markets."

"All but 14 states saw double-digit spikes in the number of people getting food stamps over the one-year period that ended in November 2010."