Rhode Island Announces 12 “Official Shutdown Days” in Attempt to Save Money, Close Budget Gap

~~By InsightAnalytical-GRL

States are suffering budgets problems these days, including New Mexico which is now in the process of cutting expenses. Locally, our school district is cutting, too.

Well, the state of Rhode Island has gone one step further.  Press relese from the Office of the Governor:

Governor Carcieri Announces Plan to Achieve $67.8 Million in FY 2010 Budget Savings

Governor Announces 12 Shutdown Days, Operating Efficiencies, Reduction in Local Aid

Governor Donald L. Carcieri today announced his plan to achieve the $67.8 million in unspecified savings in the FY 2010 budget passed by the General Assembly. The plan calls for 12 shutdown days of state government, operational savings, and withholding the 4th quarter of the vehicle excise tax from cities and towns.

“Over the past several years, framed by two recessions, the state has faced difficult budgets, resulting in nearly one billion in lost revenue over the past two years,” said Governor Donald L. Carcieri. “We have managed through this crisis with reductions in state spending, improved operating efficiencies, and without raising broad-based taxes. We have achieved equally significant savings through changes to our healthcare plan, major pension reform, a massive reduction in state employment levels, changes to social service programs, and some cuts to local aid.”

“Even with these efforts, we are faced with more daunting challenges,” continued Carcieri. “The state’s FY 2010 Budget requires my Administration to find $68.7 million in unspecified savings. With most efficiencies already attained, and staffing reductions already made, there are few options left to cut costs.”

“My Administration has developed a plan to reach the $68 million total, through a combination of shutdown days, operating efficiencies and cuts, and a reduction in local aid by withholding the 4th quarter vehicle tax payment.”

Shutdown Days

The Administration has identified 12 days in which state government will be shut down. The following days are designated as official shutdown days:

Friday, 9/4/09 Friday, 10/9/09 Friday, 10/30/09 Friday, 11/27/09 Thursday, 12/24/09 Friday, 1/15/10 Monday, 2/15/10 Friday, 3/12/10 Friday, 4/2/10 Friday, 4/23/10 Friday, 5/28/10 Friday, 6/11/10

The anticipated general revenue savings achieved from each shutdown day is approximately $1.4 million, $17.3 million in total savings for all twelve. In addition, the Higher Education system will achieve $4.3 million in general revenue savings in a manner consistent with the delivery of student services over the school year. A state employee who stays home on all 12 shutdown days, will take home about 4.6 percent less.

This brings the total savings to $21.6 million. These savings assume the cooperation and participation of all branches of government. “We are very well aware of the impact shutdown days will have on state employees and state services. For Rhode Islanders there will be inconveniences; for state employees there is sacrifice. I am asking everyone’s patience, understanding, and awareness that these steps are unavoidable if the State is to live within its means,” continued Carcieri.

The State has met with union officials for the past several weeks in hopes of reaching a consensual agreement to achieve the savings through pay reduction days, similar to the one day pay reduction implemented last fiscal year, rather than shutdown days. Pay reduction days would achieve greater saving days and afford the Administration more flexibility, while providing employees with an additional personal day to be taken at a later date.

While the Administration will continue to negotiate with labor and remains hopeful that an agreement can be reached, each day that passes puts at risk the ability for the state to achieve the necessary savings. “I look forward to working with the various unions to address this situation in another way, but we simply cannot wait any longer to act,” said Carcieri.

Operational Savings

The Department of Administration (DOA) has identified approximately $17.1 million in savings from several areas, including $5.2 million from reducing consultant contracts by 10 percent, and limiting or eliminating seminars, conference and training for state employees.

DOA has identified an additional $8.9 million from a heightened level of scrutiny on all non essential expenditures, including out of state travel, fees and subscriptions, printing, advertising and other departmental expenses. In addition, DOA expects the state to gain $3 million in health insurance savings.

Authority to Withhold Appropriations

“Even with the shutdown days, and the operating efficiencies, we are still far short of the $68 million we need,” continued Carcieri. “I intend to submit legislation for immediate consideration when the General Assembly returns in September that will grant me the authority to withhold appropriations. In these extraordinary times, I need the flexibility to withhold appropriations to properly manage the execution of the budget.”

Previous Governors have had the statutory authority to withhold appropriations. This power was stripped by the General Assembly in 1996.

Of the state general funds – approximately $3.1 billion – one billion of these state funds goes to our cities and towns. This is on top of local property tax and other taxes collected by municipalities – nearly $2 billion. The Governor intends seek authority to withhold the 4th quarter motor vehicle tax payment to cities and towns. This amounts to approximately $32.5 million.

“We cannot continue to funnel money to the cities and towns without their participation in the state’s budget conversation,” said Carcieri.

“While this plan will achieve the $68 million in the FY 2010 budget, we are not out of the woods yet. Since May, we have seen revenues continue to deteriorate. By the first of September, we will close the books on FY 09, and at first blush, revenues are expected to be off by an estimated $65 million dollars in May and June. The significant savings we have realized by this plan are being outpaced by decreasing state revenues, revenues that rely on everyday economic activity,” continued Carcieri.

Online: http://www.governor.ri.gov

Release date: 08-24-2009

Many, MANY moons ago, the State of New Jersey shut down for a day or two, but not for 12 days.

Many, many, MANY moons ago my family would spend a couple of weeks on the yet undiscovered Block Island in a house of a friend who was restoring it room by room.  She called it “Turnabout Cottage” …Let’s hope we can see some “turning about” of all the mounting problems from our financial turmoil.

I don’t see it happening anytime soon, so who knows how many states will start shutting down. And let’s hope essential services to those who need them won’t be at the top of the list for further cutting. Here in New Mexico, witih a large population of poor,  healthcare for those on Medicaid has already taken a hit…

The Past Week: January 25-31, 2009 (Two Ex-Presidents Acting Like Misogynistic Jerks; Coins; Grammy Awards Sound Truck Stops by for a Visit [Pics!])

~~By InsightAnalytical-GRL

By far the most aggravating part of this week involved the disrespect shown by the Bush I-Clinton banter from the past Monday.  The video is self-explanatory and is a disgrace.  Our “leaders”…and now Obama playing around with women as a bargaining chip (failed) with the Republicans. Birth control BEFORE pregnancy for Medicaid recipients…it could have been a real WINNING issue if Rahm Emanuel and Chicken Obama hadn’t set it up as a “negative.”  I guess all those “pastors” filing in to discuss all the taxpayers’ money that they’ll be getting as Obama continues Bush’s “faith-base” crap must be feeling mighty fine.

I’ve been looking up information on some old coins we have had for years. The one I like the best looks like an old silver dollar, but it’s 5 French francs with King Louis Phillipe pictured as Caesar which dates from 1847.  I haven’t looked into this coin but I’m figuring it might be worth something.

Along the way I’ve picked up a couple of useful sites to share…

The first one is a guide to the grading of coins from the U.S. Mint; the second is a guide to coin value trends. It’s really fascinating to look at!   And there’s some basic information about buying gold and silver at the site of the American Numismatic Association and some really interesting articles on subjects like the value of the Kennedy half dollar.

In another exhausting week, the one bright spot was the quick, overnight visit of one of my nephews, whom I haven’t seen in 5 years. He’s on his way to California from the East Coast in one of the XM sound trucks that will be used during the Grammy Awards. He’s driving the smaller of the two mobile studios that are being ferried to Los Angeles  from New Jersey. He’s spending the next week getting the sound right during rehearsals, then will be working with about 5 or 6 computer screens in the main truck, keeping things on track during the actual live broadcast February 8.

Here are a couple of pics showing the “Truck behind the Stars” parked outside my house!

Grammy Sound Truck 1

Grammy Sound Truck 2

Grammy Sound Truck 3

Grammy Sound Truck 4

Grammy Sound Truck 5

I have to say that it was sort of nice seeing Jersey license plates again!

I’ll be taking a few days off to re-group.  Lots to catch up with and a few things I’m working on need some more research. So, unless I just can’t tear myself away, we’ll be quiet here for a few days this week…Besides, Groundhogs Day (Prairie Dog Day in these parts) is on Monday and that’s a big day for me…another birthday that I’d like to forget!

THE PAST WEEK

Molly Ivins: 2 Years After Her Death, People Who Knew Her Are Putting Words into Her Mouth (Are They Holding Seances?)

The Bush I-Clinton Roadshow Takes the Low Road in New Orleans at Guess Who’s Expense? (Hint: Women, of Course)(UPDATE 1X–FULL VIDEO)

PALIN LAUNCHES “SarahPAC”!! (Updated 1X–It’s Not Just the Alfalfa Club for Palin This Weekend)

Take Action: Call Your Representative about the House Vote on the “Stimulus Package” Today! (Info on the Bill, Including ACORN, too) (Update 1: Birth Control OUT OF BILL!)

Drip-Drip-Drip: Obama Top Aides, Associates Named in U.S. Attorney’s Subpoena (Last Friday’s News Dump)

Environmental Three-Card Monte? Obama *May* Grant Emissions Waivers to States Today? (”Immediately Work on It” vs. “Reconsider”) (But Other Policies Already Having a Negative Effect on Bears–Warning, Pic!) (Updated 1X) (Update 2X–After Announcements, NY Times Still Pushing Obama Kool-Aid) (Update 3X–Gore Surfaces)

The Past Week: January 18-24, 2009 (Condi Rice Getting Booked; Pat Paulsen, We Need You!; VOA and wwiTV.com; Questions)

Obama’s Entitlement “Reform”– the Social Security-Medicare Nexus and Health Freedom

~~By InsightAnalytical-GRL

About two weeks ago, then President-elect Obama vowed this:

Obama Pledges to Reform Social Security

By JENNIFER LOVEN

AP

WASHINGTON (Jan. 7) – President-elect Barack Obama said Wednesday that reforming massive government entitlement programs — such as Social Security and Medicare — would be “a central part” of his effort to control federal spending.

(SNIP)

Noting that the Congressional Budget Office had just estimated he would inherit a $1.2 trillion federal deficit for fiscal 2009, Obama promised to cut unnecessary spending.

“We expect that discussion around entitlements will be a part, a central part of those plans,” Obama said. “And I would expect that by February in line with the announcement of at least a rough budget outline we will have more to say about how we’re going to approach entitlement spending.”

My first response was, “Gee, instead of holding half of the money from the bailout funds until it’s time for Congress to run for re-election in 2010 and using the rest for pork barrel spending now (mainly to banks and little “gifts” to various groups he’ll need in 2012), wouldn’t it be great if the damned cash could be used to create a real healthcare system instead of  looking at already strained programs like Medicare,  Medicaid and Social Security to “reform”?  Maybe look at a system which would save businesses money, maybe keep more jobs at home, etc. etc.???” Too simple, I know…the Wall Streeters and banks need to be at the feeding trough first and get their mitts deeper into these programs…

So, since we’re not going to get REAL healthcare improvements, we should wonder how Obama Administration will address THIS issue…

From the American Association for Health Freedom’s January 6th, 2009 edition of Pulse of Health Freedom newsletter :

Now, Health Freedom Watch reports that a lawsuit has been filed to challenge the withholding of social security benefits from seniors who decline Medicare Part A. Kent Masterson Brown, an important constitutional attorney, believes that this Social Security policy is illegal because “forced participation in Medicare infringes on a citizen’s right to privacy and to make necessary choices about his or her own health care, and, accordingly, violates the First, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution.”

The three plaintiffs in the lawsuit say that forced participation in Medicare Part A interferes with their doctor-patient relationship and their choice of a hospital.  While these plaintiffs have catastrophic health coverage insurance and savings to pay for their hospital care, one of the plaintiffs, Norman Rogers, stressed in a National Press Club news conference that the physicians who care for his parents, who are in a nursing home, face restrictions from Medicare in how they conduct their professional practice.  Medicare is infamous for reams of regulations that dictate care, often in contradiction of the doctor’s professional opinion and the patient’s right to choose.

With every indication that there will be a push for government funded and administrated healthcare for all Americans, the limited healthcare freedom of choice faced by Medicare and Medicaid recipients is a lesson that consumers and practitioners alike should heed. Read the AAHF position paper regarding private contracting under Medicare Part B to educate yourself about healthcare freedom of choice under government-administered health insurance.

Will the Administration let people opt out? After all, Obama is the guy who isn’t for “universal healthcare” anyway. Or, will they fight the suit with the aim of perhaps further penalizing people, like we are now penalized in $$ if you don’t sign up for Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage  immediately (and Part D is a huge shuffling of money around for which we are paying through the nose)?? It would be a nice source of extra cash if they could levy huge “fees” on people who still wanted to opt out, no matter what the cost.

So, there’s another thing to be watching for especially if you’re on Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security,  etc. And there are rumblings about disability benefits as well. Wonder what Mr. Constitutional Lawyer Obama thinks about this suit, if he even know if it exists?  (After all, he wasn’t even sure about that executive order involving Gitmo…) Where does all this fit in his plans for healthcare “reform”??

The question is not just about cutting spending…it’s about what is jeopardized in terms of care.  Do you trust Obama, Tom Daschle or the Democrats in Congress with YOUR health?

I sure don’t…

Reality Check from Our Chicago Correspondent: University of Chicago & Its Hospital “Terminating” Jobs Like Crazy (Michelle O., Guess Shuffling All Those Indigent Patients Elswhere Didn’t Help the Bottom Line That Much? Your “Plum” Job is Going, Too!)

~~By Chicago Correspondent Leslie

“Addressing the worst economic crisis the nation has seen since the Great Depression, President-Elect Obama, during his December 6th radio address, outlined a plan that will create or save at least three million jobs in 2 years by making sound long-term investments in energy conservation, renewable energy technologies, schools, healthcare and transportation, including the single largest investment in U.S. national infrastructure since the creation of the federal highway system in the 1950s.” ~~Typical news report  from MSM

So a few days ago, the news radio station here said that upon further study, the Obama plan suggests there could be as many as 4 million jobs created or saved.

WTF: Even I can “suggest”  that if someone lives a good life and invests in my brother’s business, s/he could earn a million dollars.

Are we now supposed to fall onto our knees when The One takes a breath? Are we expected to “believe” what The Messiah says or suggests ? My hands now automatically ball into fists when I hear the MSM say anything about this fraud. And when I hear His voice, I tremble – but not in awe – in rage.

Here’s what I KNOW:

…The university hospital where I work is terminating 200 positions this year. The university is terminating 5,000 positions this year. Right now, we have psychiatric social workers filling in for medical social workers in addition to filling their own spots. Is The One going to simply wave his magic hands and “save” us? The University of Chicago hospital where Michelle Obama worked so hard to send the indigent to other hospitals for treatment, is terminating hundreds of jobs. (I guess she didn’t close the door tightly enough.) And this is just one city in this amazing but faltering country of ours.

(See story below for details, including how Michelle Obama’s plum spot is part of the downsizing! And how one of Obama’s friends will take over the duties…)

…Boeing (the headquarters is in Chicago) just announced they will be cutting another 4500 jobs (in the Seattle area).

But here’s a bright spot – the census bureau is hiring thousands for census-taking. It is announced the jobs could last hours, days, weeks or possibly months!

Glory-osky! The One is already saving all the Boeing, and hospital, and coal, and university displaced workers (DWs).

(snark)

I know I cannot blame Obama for the economy. But I also know that he is a fraud and is willing to pull the rug out from under us all just to hear his name worshipfully whispered.

When I hear the people I know who are so excited about going to D.C. to “see” this historic event, and I know that they haven’t lived long enough to understand the man they adore is a poser, it is almost more than I can bear.

I only wish I had answers to the many complaints I have. Because I feel like a real nag. And I don’t like it.

As an aside: As you probably already know, the vote to impeach Gov. Blagojevich in the Illinois House was 114 – 1. There was one representative who voted… “Present”.

There is yet another Messiah coming down the pike!

***

Additional information from IA Editor:

Sketchy combined news services report (via Newsday, source LA Times):  Obama outlines plans for economic recovery

From the “official” President-elect site: President-elect Barack Obama lays out key parts of Economic Recovery Plan

***

University of Chicago hospital to trim 7% of budget

15 senior executive jobs cut; outreach, expansion said to be continuing

By Bruce Japsen |Tribune reporter

January 10, 2009

The University of Chicago Medical Center late Friday confirmed a massive restructuring that will trim $100 million in expenses, or nearly 7 percent of its annual budget, amid the economic downturn and unpaid bills owed the hospital from the state Medicaid program for the poor.

Initially, the hospital is eliminating 15 senior executive jobs, including vice president for community and external affairs, a position that had been [held] by incoming First Lady Michelle Obama. Her duties will be taken over by Dr. Eric Whitaker, a friend of her husband, President-elect Barack Obama, and a long-time executive vice president for strategic affiliations and external affairs.

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