Fiscal Rangers

Wall St. Journal: California Government Workers Paid 30% More than Private Sector Workers

Finally, someone did an analysis reported by the Wall St. Journal that describes what the true differential is between Public and Private Workers, and calls the Public workers on the Gravy Train... The study was based on California public workers, and also identifies missing components not described in another study from Berkeley. Here is an overview: - Actual wages are below private workers in BIG corporations by about 4%, but just about even if you compare all private worker pay (small and large employers). - Value of defined benefit pensions is about 4% higher for government workers because they are promised SPECIFIC levels based upon 8% earnings vs most corporations use 401k programs where the employee gets maybe 4%, and it is not a promised amount (defined benefit). - Retiree health benefits - about 90% of public plans offer retiree health benefits while pirvate sector employees rarely get them, AND government workers can start getting them when they retire in their 50's, while private sector plans rarely cover anything until a much later retirement age. State actuarial reports for California indicate the retiree health benefits could another 8% in compensation value. - Adding the values of the above pension and... Read more →

Firefighters DoubleDipping in Orlando

Tavares, FL - Feb. 14, 2011 - Channel 9 TV in Orlando reports that six Orlando firefighters are in the DROP program and doubledipping. Basically, they retired, collect retirement, then got rehired at new salaries to do vague jobs, including counting fire hydrants, according to the report. My view is that using double dippers eliminates opportunities for six other, out of work people and overpays government workers. NO corporation would have such a program, because corporate retirees usually can't collect any pension they might have until they are 65, while GOVERNMENT lets many people collect full, 30 year retirement immediately at age 55. This is another reason to keep voting out ALL incumbents until DROP is DISCARDED in local and state government in Florida. vj Here is the link to the article, including the video report: http://www.wftv.com/news/26838749/detail.html Read more →

Illegal Immigration News Roundup - Updated Feb. 23, 2011

This is a continuously updated roundup of news about the issues caused by illegal immigration around the USA. Knowing about them will keep Lake County residents informed about what could be happening here: These are the newest updates and additions - most recent is on top: 6. Feb. 23, 2011 - Fort Worth, TX- state Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham has initiated a Texas State bill that would require local law enforcement to dump illegal aliens captured during the day on the doorstep of the nearest US Congressman's office. It probably won't pass, but indicates the frustration with illegal immigration in US / Mexico border states over the lack of action by Congress. http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/02/22/2869133/putting-the-results-of-the-lack.html These are older posts 1. Accomac, MD - Jan. 30, 2011 - An illegal immigrant without car insurance crashed his car into another one and ran from the scene. He was caught later and jailed. Fortunately, no one was hurt but both cars were damaged. The Immigration service put a hold on him for deportation hearings once his sentence is completed. Read it here. 2. Workplace Raids Supported by GOP - There is a new emphasis on raiding EMPLOYERS and putting the pressure on them to reduce... Read more →

Updated Feb 8th: Video of Governor Scott's Budget Speech in Eustis Today + Article Links

Updated Feb. 8th to add text updates and links to print stories of the event Eustis, FL - : I made my own video at the event of Florida Governor Rick Scott's Budget proposal speech in Eustis on Feb. 7, 2011, but ABC News beat me to it and this is their full video of his speech on YouTube, so watch it HERE: - 23 minutes long. Here are links to the news articles & Budget details: Here is Governor Scott's website with the full, proposed budget: http://letsgettowork.state.fl.us/ Daily Commerical front page article on Gov. Scott's proposed budget is HERE. Orlando Sentinel main article about Governor Scott's proposed budget is HERE. Orlando Sentinel article about educators mad about budget plan isHERE. Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Thomas writes about the budget HERE. Governor Scott's Official Press Release & FULL TEXT of speech at event is HERE. HERE is the Google Search list for "Rick Scott Florida Budget" HERE is the video of Dr. Jack Cassell's talk - taped by Paul Richardson, So. Lake 912/Tea Party HERE is the video of State Rep. Mike Weinstein, R-Jacksonville, who announced that he and others would form Tea Party caucuses in both the Florida House... Read more →

OMIGOSH - Lake County Economic Development Visioning Workshop Held Yesterday

Preface: If you are concerned about the need to improve the Lake County business and economic climate, jobs, reducing Foreclosures, etc., read this article below and let your Lake County Commissioners know you want a SERIOUS action plan using ideas collected at the meeting held yesterday. The action plan should be developed by March 15th which will be implemented by a COMPETENT Project manager with a sense of urgency and adequate funding to get the job done in months, not years. If they don't do it, I recommend we all move to Dallas and Houston, where the jobs are. Tavares, FL - Feb. 2, 2011 - Yes, it is true. After 3 years of downturns in the economy, the Lake County Commissioners finally, actually had a meeting to collect ideas on how to improve Lake County's economy. Hard to believe, but the idea was initiated by new Commissioner Leslie Campione, and a terrible giant of activity MIGHT be unloosed. The meeting was held at Lake Sumter Community College and about 125 community members were there from all types of backgrounds. The brainstorming session was facilitated by Alan Winslow, and consisted of a bunch of breakout sessions where people at different... Read more →