AS THE administration and the Legislature discuss measures to cut some $70 million to $100 million from the current GovGuam budget, it’s surprising that the members of the 31st Guam Legislature have not stepped up to voluntarily reduce their pay and benefits.
Gov. Eddie Calvo, Lt. Governor Ray Tenorio, and top members of their staffs have voluntarily taken 10 to 15 percent cuts in their salaries. You would think, in this election year with several of the incumbent legislators believed to be in some re-election jeopardy, that the senators would have been the first to offer to reduce their pay. They haven’t and they’ve lost the opportunity to lead the way. But with the election just weeks away, right now might be a good time to demonstrate their commitment to GovGuam cost-cutting.
Nobody doubts the need for some major cuts. Not even the early-out retirement and extended unfunded liability amortization of the Retirement Fund currently under discussion will save anywhere near the amount needed. Some GovGuam jobs will have to be eliminated, some employees will have to be laid off, or furloughed. As one of the participants in the recent U.S. vice-presidential debate said, in talking about federal tax cuts, its arithmetic. There’s a word you don’t hear much anymore, but it is pretty much as simple as that. Saving more than $70 million in the current fiscal year’s budget – and the year has already started – will require more than some adjustments to the Retirement Fund.
It’s not that our senators are paid all that much – although when compared with the rest of the country they are among the highest paid lawmakers – or that the Legislature’s portion of the overall budget is that large, but the symbolic gesture of taking less pay would be of substantial public relations value. It almost certainly would be worth some votes for the incumbents to publicly take a cut in pay, and for good measure, perhaps decline their lump sum, end-of-the-year leave payment as well.
Instead of taking the initiative to reduce the cost of their own house, the senators have gotten involved in protecting other sections of the government, such as the fire department, from cuts. We can’t think of any reason why the fire department should be treated in any special way, or be protected from reducing the cost of their agency right along with all the others. But the recommended cuts to the fire department budget were taken off the table by the senators under heavy political pressure.
Apparently, there is no such pressure on our elected lawmakers to trim their own salaries, office allotments and perks, such as vacation and sick leave pay. So if they cannot be subjected to political pressure, perhaps some public embarrassment will work. C’mon senators, step up to the plate. Your public expects you to share the pain.
Time to step up
- Monday, 15 Oct 2012 03:00am
- VARIETY NEWS STAFF
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Comments
Why should they reduce, while all this political hires and friends are getting millions of dollars , being on the Payroll of the Governor. Cut them first!
The Governors reduction is symbolic and nothing but political.
All 3 branches of the Government have to come up with cuts and reduce spending.
Trim the fat overall, before you play around with employees.
trust me there is a lot of waste, proper management of GG finances would resolve that problem we have.
I think almost everybody on the island knows that gambling and prostitution coexists. For instance, if somebody is in need of cash at the game room, they offer themselves up for a fee so that they can continue their game. This does not mean, of course, that those folks do not offer themselves up in other venues. They do. Folks in the islands -- not just Guam -- tend to be "precocious." But because of the heavy religious and cultural influences, they cannot come out publicly and endorse gambling and prostitution, or legalize it. Plus, the Church does not want competition, not unlike other industries on island. Also, prostitutes tend not to pass on diseases in the First World or the Second World. Perhaps in the Third World, but even that is changing through education and better health awareness outreach programs, especially in the rural areas with the advent of technology. Finally, give folks freedom to choose -- anything -- so that they might not become "deviants" and harm children.
Specifically, on the appearance factor, folks here like their government even if they might be shy about it in public. Just as folks in the mainland who depend on the Federal Treasury even as they bash it, daily.
Also, introduce new technologies that are designed to streamline process’, it’s out there, GG just has to change their culture of thinking and get their mentalities out of the 70’s. And I don’t buy this mentality that new technology will eliminate ‘personal customer service’ approach, it don’t exist in GG
And let’s not forget off-island travel, to date, we’ve really not seen a lot of tangible improvement resulting from these off-island travels. What ever happen to web meetings/teleconferences ?? They are more cost effective and accomplishes the same thing. Start with meeting/talking on-line, besides, don’t we already have a multitude of Guam offices in the D.C. area?? To include our Congressional Delegate??? I don’t get it.
Bottom-line, Although, I agree in part with Jon, there’s more ways to save money then just falling on the sword. Common leaders, get your collective heads out of your collective orifices. The solutions are out there, I just gave you several.
There are still a couple of states that pay their state senators more than Guam. Hopefull we can catch them and overcome the difference.
http://www.empirecenter.org/html/legislative_salaries.cfm
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