Posted on 03/28/2010 9:24:09 AM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines
Gov. David Paterson ordered a “hard” hiring freeze in state government nearly two years ago, declaring that only “absolutely essential” positions be filled.
But state officials hired 51,464 people at a cost to taxpayers of more than $1 billion in salaries, plus fringe benefits, since that decree on July 30, 2008.
The hires include sons of elected officials, a close friend of the governor’s and a slew of highly paid political appointees.
Former Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll, for example, makes $155,000 a year in an environmental job the governor created for him. Paterson hired an executive assistant at $178,000 a year, a special assistant at $135,000 a year and a scheduler at $105,000 a year. A man responsible for blogging and tweeting for the Senate was hired by the Democratic majority at $120,000 a year.
Other state agencies hired photography assistants, tree pruners and ski school instructors, often with approval from Paterson’s Division of Budget.
Two summers ago, Paterson announced a “hard” hiring freeze as the nation’s economy soured and the state’s budget gap grew.
(Excerpt) Read more at syracuse.com ...
I’m an electrical engineer with a master’s degree and more than 30 years experience. I program in C++, C# and assembly language. I can write drivers. I’m an expert in image analysis, and have two software patents in that field, with four more applied for.
I make less than $90K/year, and I feel very lucky to have a job at all.
bump
She can't help it, the girl can't help it...
So, he hired 51,000 friends and relations with political connections, and the Dems STILL drove him out of the race for governor.
Those Dems, they ain’t got no gratitude.
I would tell you, but its dangerous these days to blow the whistle.
The dems can’t wait for bebe cuomo, one of the worst political hacks of all time.
Things will only get better for cronies.
There are none so blind as those who will not see.
I’m still placing my money on Cuomo, especially if the NYGOP puts up a LIdiot like Steve Levy (a Dem!) or Loozio.
I’m afraid I agree. And if he gets in, he’ll make old Mario look like a saint by comparison.
It’s frustrating to see our tax dollars paying the inflated salaries of bloggers, schedulers, and special assistants. I live in Ohio but work for a NY firm with no Ohio office. Even though almost all of my time is spent telcommuting from Ohio, NY is taking a substantial part of my salary to pay for these nonessential political handout jobs.
Engineers don’t make what many people think they do.
We’re in the same boat.
I admit I haven't been closely following this race. The NYGOP is endorsing a democRAT??? (Levy)
Remember back in the day when newspapers would pounce on crap like this and never let go? Eventually, somebody was indicted and usually went to jail?
Now, they run the story, once, and can now point that they did their job of reporting it. Just in case some angry citizen asks them about it.
“A man responsible for blogging and tweeting for the Senate was hired by the Democratic majority at $120,000 a year.”
Only the essentials i see.
This crap will end under a Paladino administration.
Bump
Amen and may God keep you employed.
Obama's Pay-Go.
--First PAY lip-service, then GO blow mo' dough.
I work for the State of Ny. These numbers may be deceiving. Even with a hiring freeze you must replace essential personnel (nurses, etc). If the state hired 50k and lost 100 k due to retirement and such, you can imagine this is not bad. It depends. How many were hired in the same time before the freeze?
That said, Paterson is definitely abusing his office and giving jobs away like Caesar fiddled.
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