Ahern giving saved state nothing

Voters of Spokane’s 6th District must surely be embarrassed after reading “Some legislators opt to cut pay in solidarity” on Aug. 27.

Rep. John Ahern states his opinion that state employees should have the option of donating 3 percent of their salary to charity instead of taking a pay cut, and that the Legislature should consider it. This is a man who sat for months through an entire legislative session primarily dedicated to adjusting the budget due to a huge shortfall in this bad economy.

Apparently no one explained to him that the reason state workers’ pay was cut was to save the state money. John, would the state save money if it paid them their full salaries and gave them the option of donating 3 percent?

I hope the people of the 6th District remember this in the next election. If the 6th District is a village, then John Ahern is its … well, you know the rest.

Larry Bernbaum

Spokane