IdaBlue: Cut State Staff, Not Pay

The legislature is mulling over the idea of reducing spending on state employees, either by cutting pay by 10%, or by cutting 10% of the work force. If those are the choices, I think the 10% lay off is the way to go. If pay is cut 10%, morale will plummet . State workers are already about 15% behind their private sector counterparts. Butch Otter was proposing 3-4 years of 5% raises just to get state workers even. They got about that one year, and will not get raises this fiscal year. So cutting salaries will widen the wage gap/ IdaBlue . More here .

• Closer look at the impact of Idaho agriculture /Kevin Richert
• Salary caps & pork /Clayton Cramer
• Christian prayers at City Council meetings /2C Etc.
• Potty training revisited /Michael Strickland
• White racism — OK, we’re even now /Left Side of the Moon
• Twitter brought guests home for Super Bowl /From The Editor

Question: Should Idaho lawmakers cut 10% of the pay or of the staff of state employees?

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• Alert: Urge ‘no’ vote on David Ogden /IVA