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Citizens Against Government Waste and the Idaho Freedom Foundation today unveiled a “2010 Idaho Pork Report,” pointing to ways the two groups said Idaho is wasting state and local taxpayer dollars and could make big savings. Among the suggestions: Cut health and pension benefits for state employees, though the state long has struggled with below-market salaries for state workers; eliminate Medicaid services that aren’t required by federal law; cut pay for the top-paid state employees; and stop funding programs ranging from support for the arts to the Commission on Hispanic Affairs to the Idaho Preferred program at the state Department of Agriculture. The report also calls for changing how Idaho teachers are paid, calling that “the porkiest plan of all” and contending that “Idaho dumps more than $756 million into teacher salaries.”
Wayne Hoffman, head of the foundation, also decried the fact that two state lawmakers who have missed all or part of two recent legislative sessions - one to care for his wife who was dying of cancer, the other for his own treatment for brain cancer - continued to receive state health coverage and pension benefits. The lawmakers both appointed substitutes to serve in their absence. Though changing that policy wouldn’t save any state money, Hoffman said it’s not “good for legislators to be gone for two legislative sessions and remain on the state payroll.”
Senate President Pro-Tem Bob Geddes said he welcomed such a report, though he questioned some of the proposals. “I think there are additional opportunities for us to find some savings and efficiencies in state government - the low-hanging fruit has been picked,” he said. “If they can find us examples where we can be more efficient … sign me up.”
Betsy Z. Russell covers Idaho news from The Spokesman-Review's bureau in Boise.
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Yossarian_22 on January 06 at 1:23 p.m.
Wow! I think these guys left some things out, like maybe…
- a tax credit for crushing kittens and puppies
- a stiff $10,000 fine for earning less than $1 million a year
- a free kiddie first-aid kit in lieu of a real health care plan
- closing down all emergency food distribution and homeless shelters
- rounding up said homeless people to work in coal mines for free
I'd better stop now..they might think I'm serious.
Mr Wizzard…please send me back home now. Oh, I'm already there?
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ericn1300 on January 06 at 1:31 p.m.
Have a link to their full report? It appears that they have made their web site subscription only. Kinda ironic that the Idaho Freedom Foundation is now pay for view.
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Sisyphus on January 06 at 2:51 p.m.
Good point Yossarian.
I'm also appalled.
http://www.43rdstateblues.com/?q=node…
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fortboise on January 06 at 5:06 p.m.
@ericn: They'd LIKE you to subscribe, you don't have to. (“Skip” link at the bottom.)
The entry for their Pork Report is http://www.idahofreedom.net/blog/idah…
Dated yesterday, says “check back Wednesday.” Here it is Wednesday… apparently the IFF is no stranger to bureaucratic incompetence.
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slfisher on January 06 at 8:41 p.m.
God, I can't believe Hoffman is saying Clint Stennett should have lost his medical coverage while he was fighting brain cancer. Have some decency.
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