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HAS ANYONE SEEN OUR STAPLER?
WTF, S.C. (TPS) - Let’s admit it, if there’s anyone in South Carolina who’s underpaid, it’s the hard-working, blue collar laborers fearless leaders of our state’s bloated bureaucracy. So thank goodness the ever-competent, judicious-minded Budget and Control Board found it in their hearts to ensure that these proprietors of paper-pushing will be able to eat at Ruth’s Chris instead of LongHorn and can afford that extra “winter car” or vacation home for their two or three months of dedicated service.
Hey, they’ve earned it.
Over the objection of Gov. Mark Sanford, the state’s Budget and Control Board on Tuesday gave MUSC President Ray Greenberg a nearly $36,000 raise and approved salary increases for nine other executive-level state employees.
In addition to Greenberg’s pay bump, which boosts his salary to $232,064:
• Frank Fusco, the Budget and Control director Sanford forced out in January only to have the lawmakers on the board hire him back, will see his salary climb to $173,380 from $150,458.
• Piedmont Technical College President Lex Walters in Greenwood will earn $121,485 compared to his current $101,533.
The salary increases passed the five-member board with a vote of 3-2 with Sanford and Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom dissenting.
“I know of no plans of any of these folks leaving. Some of them have only been here two or three months. Now we’re giving them raises?” Sanford said, noting the state will start the new fiscal year with a deficit unless state revenues increase.
Emma Forkner, for example, state Health and Human Services director, was named to her post in late July. Her salary will increase to $144,746 from $135,000. [GINA SMITH - The State]
In all fairness, the article notes that Sanford “has not always been on the conservative side of salary debates.” When the Agency Head Salary Commission suggested incoming insurance director Scott Richardson be paid $112,000, Sanford rejected the idea and in turn asked that he earn $137,000.
As for the 10 people who will be bringing home more bacon because of Tuesday’s decision, a $20,000-plus pay raise for, on average, less than a year of work must be pretty nice.
Waiting anxiously for the post on Brownback’s endorsement of McCain…can’t say we didn’t see this one coming.
Please feign surprise/astonishment.
Mark Sanford gave a talk last night to the USC College Republicans which I went to see; this was one of the things he brought up.
He pointed out that although the last few years have been good, the surplus was squandered and we’re starting the next fiscal year some hundreds of million in the hole.
These raises aren’t linked to any need to retain these people at their posts nor their performance… just a big chunk of free money for some reason.
The proposal for this wasn’t available in advance; just plopped down 5 minutes before the board had their meeting.
Haha… Greer, that was priceless! Please comment more often.
http://www.palmettoscoop.com/2007/10/18/so-long-sam/
“As for his endorsement, we’re thinking it will go to either Mike Huckabee or Mitt Romney.”
B.S., just for the record.
Everybody knew it was going to McCain.
The pay raises are just an opportunity for Mark Sanford to sell Mark Sanford.
If he really gave a damn about our money, he would get off the sidelines and get involved with the budget in a meaningful manner…instead of screaming to the reporters about lower taxes.
Mark Sanford traded big budgets for votes and publicity. He gets votes, we get the bill. That, my friends, is a bad deal.
[...] Hooray for pay raises! [...]
[...] Check it out! While looking through the blogosphere we stumbled on an interesting post today.Here’s a quick excerpt [IMG Milton] HAS ANYONE SEEN OUR STAPLER? WTF, S.C. (TPS) – Let’s admit it, if there’s anyone in South Carolina who’s underpaid, it’s the hard-working, blue collar laborers fearless leaders of our state’s bloated bureaucracy. So thank goodness the ever-competent, judicious-minded Budget and Control Board found it in their hearts to ensure that these proprietors of paper-pushing will be able to eat at Ruth’s Chris instead of LongHorn and can afford that extra “winter car” or vacation home for [...]
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