Senator Don White

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Banking and Insurance Committee

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For Immediate Release
July 6, 2007
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Senator White: Budget Impasse Inexcusable

Condemns ploy of holding state workers hostage

State Senator Don White today issued a statement regarding the Governor's stalling of the state budget and his unnecessary furloughing of thousands of state employees.

"I am extremely disappointed that here we are on July 6, no closer to finalizing a state budget and working under a threat by the Governor to idle thousands of state employees if he doesn't get his way on several issues that are unrelated to the budget.  What's most frustrating is that this furlough does not need to occur.  The Governor is manufacturing this crisis.

"The Senate, with only one member dissenting, sent a fiscally responsible budget to the House of Representatives on June 20, where it languished right up until the final hours of the 2006-07 Fiscal Year before non-concurring. Yes, even though the Senate moved this budget with strong bipartisan support, the House Democratic leadership is working in lockstep unison with the Administration to hold this process hostage as long as possible.

"Now, the Governor is using an inexcusable ploy of threatening to furlough tens of thousands of state employees as a way to push his agenda. Through a crisis of his own making, the Governor will put those employees out of work on Monday. I find that to be callous in the extreme. The first rule of a responsible manager is to look out for the welfare of his or her employees, certainly not put them and their families at risk. The Governor should put the budget process and the welfare of his employees and constituents above his own national agenda, whatever it may be.

"I am committed to working toward passage of a budget that meets the standards set by the Senate Republican Caucus. One that includes no tax increases. One that controls spending; and, one that does not defer tax increases until next year.

Contact:  
Joe Pittman
(717) 787-8724 or (724) 541-0552 (cell)

 

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