From an April 27 town hall meeting in Iowa:
[…] I’ve said this before publicly and I’ll say it again, I make no apologies for it. I am a pro-union guy.
Our unions helped build our middle class. We take for granted so much stuff — minimum wage laws, 40-hour work week, overtime, child labor laws. Those things wouldn’t have happened if it hadn’t been for unions fighting for those rights. So even if you’re not a member of a union, you’ve got to be appreciative of what unions have done.
"Just as we hold back government when it comes to the intrusion of homes and lives of people, we’re simply applying that same standard to government itself with regard to its workers," [Sen.] Illuzzi said Wednesday.
Illuzzi amendment gives VSEA a seat at the table to determine what sites the State can block!
"The governor’s proposals have the potential to affect every single Vermonter who unexpectedly finds him or herself laid off through no fault of their own. If the Legislature adopts the proposed benefit cuts, it will be bad for Vermont families, bad for Vermont businesses, and bad for Vermont’s economy."
But if you’re one of those 50+ state employees who constitute the 1% allowed to be cut, probably not much consolation. However, it does prevent the wholesale rescission cutting the State has engaged in the past few years.
"Sen. Tim Ashe, D-Chittenden, agreed with Racine, saying he backed the option of using the reserve funds and if the Challenges savings were ultimately realized, the money wouldn’t be used."
Worst economy since the Great Depresssion, we’re told, but…it’s not quite bad enough yet. Vermonters ask: "When exactly will it be bad enough??"
Thanks to the 10 Senators who voted to do the right thing. Now, it’s up to the legislative/executive branches to find $38 million to plug holes–by next week!
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