That Slime Up In Chicago
The State is currently without a budget because governor Rod Blagojevich is throwing a tantrum that his pet projects didn't make it in. The University (and other State employees) will get paid this month, but the governor has 60 days to consider the budget.
And to top it all off, at the last minute, against campaign promises, he signed pay raises for himself and legislators!
If that's any indication, then 59 days from now, sometime between 11:30 and midnight, he will finally cave in and sign the damn budget. Meanwhile, the rest of us can sit on our thumbs wondering if we'll get paid next month.
Dear Governor: we already know you're going to give in to demands. Just do it sooner rather than later.
1. nathan says:
Wednesday, August 15, 2007 at 10:20 PMDoes the freeze apply to research assistantships? Not that RAs get paid in August anyway, but I am curious.
2. sbutler says:
Thursday, August 16, 2007 at 10:45 PMWell... it's not a "freeze". It's not that the money is there and the State can't spend it. It's more like the money isn't there, and you can't borrow because you don't know that the money will ever come.
No one knows what the governor is going to axe to make room for his $500 million plan. I don't understand state constitutions and government, but this whole thing sounds rather unconstitutional to me. It's usually the legislature's job to allocate funds to projects. None of them like Blagojevich's health plan. So he gets to add it anyway? That doesn't sound right.
You would think RA's would be safe if the money comes from grants. However, the people in the HR department do not get paid from grants. And if they don't come to work, then I doubt the direct deposits will happen.