From the Bluegrass Report By way of The GreenDog Democrat

(this is from an e-mail newsletter)
FROM THE BLUEGRASS REPORT (March 22?)
Fletcher-Pence Administration Screwing State Employees AGAIN

Like a child touching a hot stove, the Fletcher-Pence administration doesn't seem to have a clue when to stop mistreating state employees. Thanks to the Kentucky Gazette, we now know the salaries and salary increases to thousands of merit and non-merit employees.

And guess what?

While merit employees are likely to suffer through some absurdly small pay increases over the next few years (and Lord help them if they are paying for in-state college tuition for their kids, as well), it's been a bonanza for non-merit employees, particularly if you work for Governor Fletcher in any senior capacity.

First of all, Fletcher received a 7% pay increase himself -- from $109,146 to $116,520. That's an increase of $7,374 in one year for a man who hasn't even met the most minimal job requirements and should be indicted.

However, those in the middle of controversy have fared even better:

Budget Director Brad Cowgill saw his pay increase from a very high $127,146 all the way to $155,000, a 22% raise. For what, I ask?

Indicted-Pardoned-Indicted-Sued Transportation Secretary Bill Nighbert not only got a promotion after he harassed and intimidated a female worker under his supervision after she testified before the grand jury, but then watched his pay take off from $95,445 to $130,038, a 36% increase.

Indicted-and-Pardoned Deputy Transportation Secretary Jim Adams received a 12% raise from $103,929 to $116,547, and fellow indictee-and-pardonee Tim Hazlette cashed in with a 36% raise from $70,700 to $96,500.

Transportation official David Jackson -- at the center of the controversy in the original complaint filed by Doug Doerting -- didn't skip a financial beat, securing a 33% raise from $76,237 to $101,550.

Deputy Press Secretary Jodi Whitaker got a 76% raise, Boards and Commission official Edwin Orange saw his rise 55%, and Brian Crall saw his $106,050 salary climb 12% to $118,450.
One state merit worker told me that while their increase was less than 2%, the Executive Branch payroll this year is $1.2 billion, which is a $180 million increase (around 16%) from last year, and the number of $100,000 + employees jumped from 198 to 233. And at the same time, health insurance and salary package was ranked in the bottom five nationally for state employees.

What was that phrase...waste, fraud and abuse?

Finally, an e-mail to state employees this morning from former Governor and Senator Julian Carroll (D) warned of the following item buried in the Senate budget bill:

However, there is included in the Senate Bill a disturbing provision, apparently at the request of the Governor, to cover any shortage of funds for payment of health insurance costs by reducing the above salary increments. On page 307 of House Bill 380, as amended by the Senate, the following provision is found:

"If the Secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet determines that the State Group Self-Insurance Fund does not contain or is not projected to receive adequate premiums, investment income, or other income and savings for Plan Year 2007, he shall make a recommendation to the Governor that the employer premiums be increased effective July 1, 2007, and a reduction be made in the state employee salary adjustment listed above, for fiscal year 2007-2008, by the same amount. Any adjustment in the employer premium of the state employee salary adjustment made in accordance with this section shall be done by Executive Order."

This means: if there are insufficient funds through the premiums paid by state government to pay health insurance costs, reductions will be made in the salary increments by reducing the increments in an amount sufficient to increase the state premiums for any shortfall in the amount necessary to pay health insurance costs.

It's hoped that this issue can be resolved in the Conference Budget. Certainly, any additional cost of health insurance should not be placed on the backs of state employee salary increments.