Here's our morning round up of news and views of interest to State Worker blog users.
Brown's Countdown, Day 2: Governor looking for three-sided trick shot on budget
Gov. Jerry Brown proposed a delicate trick shot Monday to balance California's budget: Persuade Democrats to slash social services, ask Republicans to place taxes on the ballot, then persuade voters to pay additional money for five more years.
State workers unhappy with Brown's budget plan (video above)
A lot of people are upset about Gov. Jerry Brown's plans to cut spending and raise revenue, especially tens of thousands of state workers.
State of the unions
The Great Depression invigorated the modern American labor movement. The Great Recession has crippled it.
Support for public employee unions drops significantly
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 45% of Americans now at least somewhat favor unions for public employees, while the identical number (45%) are opposed to them.
Poll: Northwesterners Say Public Employees Have Too Much Influence
A survey shows 63 percent of people in the Northwest agree with this statement: "In looking out for their own interests, public sector unions increase the size and cost of government too much." ... Now meet Ed Tilton, Washington state employee, who is on food stamps.
Brown's Countdown: Governor Proposes Lean Budget, Tax Increases; Response Partisan
Governor Jerry Brown warned Californians his budget proposal would be severe and Monday he delivered on that promise. Brown's plan calls for cuts to most areas of government and asks voters to extend tax increases. The response was partisan. (Includes audio link.)
California's budget is tough to tackle politically, but not necessarily economically
Governor Jerry Brown will introduce a budget proposal that, according to the Governor himself, will cause some pain for almost everyone. The state faces a shortfall equal to about a quarter of the state's annual budget. Finding ways to close the gap will be a tough political problem. But it's not such a tough economic problem, according to Sacramento Bee political columnist Dan Walters.Walters says the California budget could be fixed in 3 steps. (Click here to download audio.)
AFL-CIO disputes 'myths' about Fla. pension funds
The AFL-CIO and two outside experts Monday disputed what they say are "myths" that Florida's public employee retirement plans are underfunded and provide lavish benefits.
Hundreds of state's managers set to be booted from union
A measure making its way through the Illinois General Assembly would sharpen the definition of management positions for employees of the state's constitutional officers. This change immediately would strip 196 people of their union membership, said state Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago. Currie, the measure's sponsor, said that 96 percent of the state workforce currently is unionized. That number, which is continuing to creep upward, is too much,
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