Statesman: Staff Bonuses Wrong

The $94,633 in bonuses to legislative staffers isn’t enough to break the state budget. But these ill-timed, one-time payments are big enough to look bad. They leave the perception — accurate or not — that the policymakers are taking care of their own, while stiffing other hard-working and deserving state employees. They send a message — intended or not — that there are winners and losers in a public workforce that extends from the Statehouse to public schools and college campuses. To say nothing of the message to the private sector. Any goodwill and employee loyalty these bonuses purchase will come at a steep collateral cost/ Idaho Statesman Editorial Board . More here.

Question: Should Idaho legislators be giving bonuses to staffers at a time when they’re slashing education, Medicaid, Health & Welfare, and other important budgets?