To be quite blunt and obvious, the economy sucks. The state of Oklahoma is facing a $600-$900 million budget shortfall for the upcoming year, which means that many state agencies are going to be facing massive budget cuts.
Putting aside the fact that I am employed by a state agency and have to wonder what these budget cuts may mean for me, I still was horrified by the following story that was released this afternoon on the Daily Oklahoman's Web site:
http://www.newsok.com/glenn-coffees-staff-members-receive-hefty-pay-raises/article/3346148?custom_click=headlines_widget
Glen Coffee, Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tem, has provided his staff members with raises ranging from 12-59 percent.
Let's think about this for a second: some state employees may be facing the loss of their jobs because of a lack of funds, Governor Henry wans to avoid tapping into the "Rainy Day Fund" (and I'm not getting into that here, but I don't think I agree with his stance on it) to cover the budget shortfall, and Senator Coffee offers his employees massive raises? Something's just NOT adding up to me. Those raises are funded through taxpayer money - that's money that I helped contribute. Instead of funding massive raises, that money could be used to help with education budgets, corrections budgets, roads/bridges, or so many other things. It's not enough money to make gigantic headway towards the deficit that we're facing, but when there are people laid off because of a lack of state funds, I'd like to see Senator Coffee explain his rationale to them when they're distraught and wondering how to feed their families. You know that won't happen. Instead, the greed of one man has chosen to line the pockets of a very few.
Maybe I'm doing something wrong, here. Maybe I should change my party affiliation and go to work for a Republican member of the Oklahoma legislature! Oh, wait...I have scruples and morals. It's a sure bet, though, that I'll be contacting Senator Coffee and expressing my disdain. I encourage all Oklahoma citizens to do the same:
Capitol Address
Senator Glenn Coffee
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Rm. 422
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
405.521.5799
405.530.2304 (fax)
coffee@oksenate.gov
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