Do you agree with Gov. Carcieri's plan to shut down state government to save money?

The state employees have done enough to help him out of hisextravagant spending habits. If he shuts down the state thats called a lock out which is against Council 94's contract. If the Governor can break Council 94's contract then Council 94 can break it to by striking.

Don't let the Governor hurt the D.O.T. Workers anymore. We make very little money, as it is for the work we do.. :( Lets us take a snow day off and see how the state fairs.. Watch some of the vendors plowing for the state, and the state will save a "lot of money" in years to come. They don't do their jobs.. I know because we have to go back out there after plowing for 30 hours straight and clean up after them.

Come on you people. The Governor has NO power in this State. It is the Democrats and unions gthat have caused the fiscal problems. But, you conveniently blame him. When are the people of this excuse for a state going to wake up and vote the Democrats out? Long live the Moderate Party!

It's obvious that the Govenor fully intends to not only have the state workers pay for his inability to financially run this state, but to take the balance of the shortfall and "stick it" to the taxpayers. How about taking a pay cut yourself Govenor?? Thank God, this is the end of your reign of terror.

The budgetary problems of the state of RI are not the fault of the people who are employed by the state. All of those people sought and accepted jobs under a clearly delineated contract with clearly delineated benefits. Most of these jobs are at the lower pay levels - not the higher paid administrative levels. But these are the people who will be hurt. Most have 2nd jobs or have a 2 income situation just to keep their heads above water. If anyone is to take a hit on payroll, I would suggest that the Governor consider contractors and the plethora of administrators - many of whom are superfluous - and redundant. Over the last 35 years, I have watched the structure of all of our state institutions become top-heavy with administrators. Fewer and fewer people are actually doing the work that has always been done by state workers. A foray into contracting about 25 yrs ago, was a debacle. The state saved $ by ending the contractors and hiring back state workers. This is not a one answer problem but the state employees have given all they can give and still afford to go to work. Leave them alone and start running the state in a fiscally responsible manner. That is a request not only of our Governor, but of our state legislators who are largely responsible for this budgetary abyss.

How much of a pay cut is the Govenor taking? Why does he always pinch the "small guy", and not practice what he preaches?

what's better....cutting jobs? or cutting 12 days? I think cutting 12 days to help the entire state is beneficial.

State employees receive their pay every 2 weeks for work that was performed. With a reduction in our pay there will not be anything extra to spend to help our economy recover. I guess we will be blamed for that too!

12 days turns to 24 days on and on :(

Does this mean that governor and everybody involved in this solution also plan on not being paid on these shut down days? And if they are not being paid, do they have any witty back-up plans as to how to recoup this money without anybody finding out? I don't find it fair that they're calling for drastic and unpresidented measures, if they, the same people who helped put us in this mess, aren't taking a pretty good hit in the wallet as well.

I think the money used on welfare should be cut down. Why pick on the people who go out to work everyday and have their taxes taken out to pay for these people who sit around all day and collect welfare checks and get the best medical coverage while the working person has to pay for their coverage

When any business is not taking in enoigh money to pay the bills they need to either raise prices (taxes in the case of the state) or decreace cost. Since most businesses (including state goverment) largest expense is labor related it only makes sense that you need to cut in that area. The choices are layoffs or reduced hours. State employees are no different than any other worker and they need to decide are layoffs better or is it better to reduce hours. As a customer of the state (a taxpayer) I fully support the governors actions.

I don't agree with Carcieri doing this. The state workers have done enough. I could see a couple days without pay, no problem; however, 12 is extreme. I have yet to hear that Carcieri is going to take a paycut himself. How is it fair that he expects everyone else to, yet he has not stepped up to the plate. Also, how about eliminating some of the jobs within his administration. It amazes me on how many people it actually takes to run an administration, especially at the salaries that I'm sure they are at. Take from the top not from the bottom. What about people that are on Salary, how are you going to take the money from them, or do they just get a free day off? It's a shame that the Governor has put us in such bad shape and doesn't realize that people are living paycheck to paycheck, and when you are missing a days pay, OUCH!!!, you struggle, but I'm sure he doesn't know how that is.

Angry Citizen

Instead of just banning cell phones for certain state employees (like he did a few years back), maybe he ought to entertain the idea of having state senators and reps driving around in either a fuel-efficient, low cost vehicle rather than the BMW 535i that I saw one House Rep driving on the way to Jamestown. I wonder how much money the state would save if we took back some of the "perks?"

Thank you Mr.Governor. It is good to finally have a Governor who will stick up for all the taxpayers against the self serving unions. Many of us have already taken pay cuts and if the unions do not like theirs, then the Governor should enact firings. I am sick of the belly aching pampered state workers making the taxpayers subsidize their lavish contracts.

Obviously the people who voted this Governor in should be very proud of themselves. How come the state is in worst shape since he became Governor, why is there so many state workers working several hours of o.t., riding around in yellow plated state vehicles, unbelievable. It's not an honor or a pleasure serving the citizens of rhode island any longer.

Does Mr. Atkins realize that state workers are also taxpayers? Or does he think we are exempt from paying taxes. State workers families who have family in private industry have also been hit with doubling healthcare deductions, reduction in hours, reduction in benefits, etc. So then it means state workers are hit twice. Hello? We pay taxes just like he does. The people that agree with this are the ones who are wealthy, enough said.

I completey agree with th e governor's decision. Why should state employees be immune from pay reductions? Layoffs and furloughs are happening across many industries in the US and globally. Of course, the state workers are upset about this, they will be taking what amounts to a 4% paycut. BIG DEAL!!!! Many private sector workers have taken 100% paycuts and do not have health benefits. It is difficult to have sympathy for state workers. Think about it. Who has had a pleasant, responsive and speedy visit to the DMV? Have you seen how many workers take cigarette breaks outside state buildings? Of course there are dedicated and hard working state employees, however, I think they are a minority. The governor should reallly be looking into permanently laying off 4000 state workers and hire quality managers to assure that the remaining employees work efficiently. This will save the state budget over $250 million per year.

Why should state employees be immune from pay reductions? pay reductions 15.52 houry wow...im going to bye a big house with that pay...cut me some more

To everyone on here that is bashing state workers, since you are all outsiders, you obviously don't know what we have contributed and cut back on in order to help the state. I do believe that we went without raises, took a pay cut, pay more into our health coverage(which now I pay more than when I worked in a fast food restaurant, doesn't say much), and took a day without pay. Everyone thinks Hey!, State worker, they must make a lot. NOPE!!!! I make less now than when I did working for the fast food chain, but the only reason i'm here is security of a job. And further more, I am sick and tired of everyone saying that state workers don't work, ya there are some that don't but you get that at any job you work at. For the most part, we are hard working employees that pretty much take it. State workers are not like they use to be. DIFFERENT GENERATION COMING IN!!!! Oh, as for the cigarette breaks, who doesn't get a break at their job. Everyone is entitled to a break. Everyone is so quick to say lets go get those state employees, why not the people that are actually making the 6 figure numbers. Unless you are at my job all day seeing what i do and how difficult it is and tiring, don't sit back and act like just because i'm a state employee i don't do anything. That's called INCONSIDERATE. Oh, and I know plenty of customers who have had plenty of great visits to state offices. The problem is people come in with chips on their shoulders to start off.

Sara's comments are exactly the mentality of the BS that comes from the state worker unions. If fast food restaurants are paying more and providing better benefits than state jobs, why don't you go back to it? As for lazy employees, Sara makes a good point, they are everywhere. The difference is, they get fired in the private sector. The lazy state workers hang around for 28 years to retire at the ripe old age of 50, but of cousre they earned every dollar of that pension, Right??? Finally, state workers wake up!! Do your jobs well, find efficient ways to get things done, demand that your union leaders stop protecting the lazy unproductive employees and earn some respect from the taxpayers. Otherwise, your unions will be crushed. The taxpayer backlash is just starting.

Bill, you evidently didn't read what I wrote when I said the reason i'm in state service is job security. I know i'm not going to get laid off when we are so short handed as it is. If you were a state employee you would also know that the union doesn't always protect lazy people. There's a younger generation coming in, and I know that cause I'm one. I'm not a union person either, but I will say I have never worked so hard, as I have with anyone else. What you don't hear about is all the things the state expects you to do, which you don't see. We don't complain about it. We are all grateful that we have jobs, and as for hanging around for 28 years then retiring at 50, I don't know if you heard, but you can't do that anymore. Like I said, new generation coming in which are more pleasant, it's just a shame no one is willing to give us a chance on showing that we are great workers and team players. Everyone needs to get that old mentality out of their head and just give it a chance. It's not like we are saying we don't want to do more to help with the state financial problems, but I have tons of bills just like the next person and it's hard to pay those when you are not getting paid for everyday. Just give us a break!!!!!!!

One more thing, don't know if anyone realizes this or not but STATE WORKERS PAY TAXES TOO!!!!!!

I had to take a 5% paycut and an increase in health benefit costs. State workers don't realize how fortunate they are to have such a generous healthcare, benefit and retirement package. The rest of us should be so lucky. If state workers are so disgruntled they can always look for another job.

WOW! Sticking to the man again huh! i am now on unemployment..i wonder who will be running that dept? You already have to wait a min of 8 wks! I agree with many of the other comments...YOU SHOULD TAKE A PAYCUT OR NO PAY! I may be unemployed right now..but I still pay taxes on that money..so its not like the state GETS NOTHING FROM US!

How many state jobs are unnecessary and are paid well, but their jobs were created by state workers in high places who are their friends. Also how many state workers are at the retirement age, but stay to increase their pension and also sit all day long at their desk and do absolutely nothing. Shouldn't the governor be looking into these areas? How many state workers have state vehicles and take them home with them every night and even do personal errands with them. Let these people drive their own cars to and from work like the rest of us.

I am a state worker and I just got the list..Days off with out pay :( 9/4/09, 10/09/09, 10/30/09, 11/27/09, 12/24/09, 1/15/10, 2/15/10, 3/12/10, 4/02/10, 4/23/10, 5/28/10, 6/11/10, not being paid. Take take take...lets just work for 0$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I dont understand why everyone is outraged by this decision. Many companies state wide are having to do this. These are tough times and everyone should pitch in at a time like this. Why are state workers any different? They should be lucky they still have a job to go to everyday, and get benefits for their family's. They should really think of how good they have it for a change and stop complaining every chance they get! If they didn't work for the state, things could be alot worse!