December 8, 2010
Update on the General Assembly's Staff Budget
In response to my post about Democrat RI House Speaker Gordon Fox's reshuffling of General Assembly staff, a legislator whom I'd count among the good guys emails a mitigating consideration:
I see the budget is projected to increase by $1.6 million over last year. However, I also understand that the re-districting process is slated to cost $1.5 million so most of that increase is for a once a decade thing.
He does, however, wonder why last year's actual expenditure was lower than was projected and why this years can't be the same. "Not to mention why we have 300 employees at the State House in the first place."
I noticed that an editorial in today's Boston Herald encourages the Tea Party to begin a movement, by referendum, to throw the bums out. The means suggested is a Constitutional alteration to make the legislature "part time" in the hope this will stymie "career politicians".
I suspect this stems from the current corruption scandal in the Probation Department (who knew?).
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/opinion/op_ed/view/20101208full-time_corruption_needs_part-time_fix/