Penn stops paying State workers

[lisagurl]

Still no agreement on a Pennsylvania budget that's now 24 days late. 44,000 workers received a 20% paycheck today. It's the last round of partial paychecks that'll go out until a budget is signed. In the meantime, the U.S. Department of Labor says it's received more than 1,500 complaints from Pennsylvania state employees.

http://wfmz.com/view/?id=1235638 🔗

You have to love American Politics especially when it plays with the food in you mouth.

[NicholeW.]

Yeah, big rally in Philly today where Mayor Nutter released peoposed budget cuts for the city is the Harrisburg group doesn't give him permission for a $.01 sales tax increase and a restructuring of the city-workers pension-plan. To date the legislature isn't getting the budget or much of anything done. ... Well, they're prolly getting paid.

http://www.kyw1060.com/Nutter-Holds---Doomsday---Budget-Rally/4902236 🔗

Following the rally, the mayor's press office issued the following list of operational changes they say would be required in the city if the state legislature failed to approve the sales tax increase and pension plan changes:

Police
Eliminate 972 positions including 739 sworn officers, 43 civilians, and 190 by attrition.

Fire
Deactivate 6 engine companies, 3 ladder companies, and 5 ALS medic units.
As a result eliminate 36 officer positions, 120 firefighter positions, and 40 paramedics positions.
Engine and ladder deactivations will likely result in the complete closure of fire houses.

Health
Close 2 City Health Centers resulting in a significant negative impact on Philadelphia's uninsured population.
Eliminate Medical Evaluation Unit.
Eliminate 112 positions.

Streets
Reduce trash pick up to twice a month, eliminating 350 positions.
Reduce citywide cleaning and eliminate all citywide support staff, an additional 50 positions.

Recreation
Close all Recreation Centers and cease all programming.
Eliminating 450 positions.

Free Library
Cease operations at all branch and regional libraries.
Eliminating 490 positions.

Fairmount Park
Cease all operations, eliminating 142 positions.

Commerce Department and Philadelphia City Planning Commission
Cease all operations, eliminating 59 positions in total.

Further eliminated positions
Mayor's Office – 18 positions
Managing Director's Office – 21 positions
L&I – 6 positions
Finance Department – 23 positions
Division of Technology – 79 positions
Human Resources – 8 positions
Records – 12 positions
Revenue – 2 positions

APPROXIMATELY 3,000 POSITIONS ELIMINATED