"85-15" Protected in Governor Patrick's Budget ? Not so fast!

NAGE's Lying Propaganda website reports.....

"Contending with a $1.3 billion spending gap to close, Governor Deval Patrick filed House 1, officially putting into the record his FY2008 budget recommendation for the Commonwealth. Although his spending plan calls for sweeping cuts across the state, at least one significant budget item remains protected—the 85-15 employer/employee split for state employee health-care premiums."

Don't start congratulating yourself yet, Holway.... As we've all found out in recent years, there's more than one way to skin a cat. The 85-15 premium contribution is only one part of the equation. Increases in co-pays, reductions in service, increases in deductibles are other ways to shift the financial burden of formerly covered health care cost to employees.... let's wait and see what the "Benefit Guide" tells about the hidden costs to employees..... AND What about the huge cut in the GIC line item?

NAGE prevaricating Propagandists report.....

"It's obviously a huge victory for us [NAGE members], given that the governor had to close a budget gap of more than a billion dollars," said National President David J. Holway.

Somebody get me a tissue..... boo hooo, poor governor Patrick has to close a 1.3 billion budget gap..... and I suppose we've got help out by accepting another-below the rate of inflation contract, right Dave?

Here we go again .... NAGE is starting already to soften everybody up and get them prepared for a yet another low-balled insulting contract..... Judas Goat Holway is leading us down the ramp to the slaughterhouse....

NAGE Propaganda website reports.....

When NAGE discovered that Governor Patrick had issued a memo to his Cabinet secretaries directing them to identify ways to cut their annual budgets by up to 10 percent, NAGE lobbyists immediately got to work to make sure that 85-15 would be protected.
"We knew Governor Patrick would be looking at every way possible to cut the budget, so we immediately set up meetings with his officials and with Lt. Governor [Tim] Murray," said NAGE Legislative Director Ray McGrath. "We're definitely pleased that 85-15 remained untouched, and we will continue to keep its protection at the top of our priority list."

Well let's hope that do-nothing, layabout, Ray McGrath ($165,000/ year of YOUR DUES MONEY) at least got a meeting... by the way, People are saying that McGrath is persona non gratis in Therese Murray's office...(the new Senate President) (remember this guy, the idiot that fumbled the funding for the last paltry raise we got? ....and then tried to Blame it on the Senate Way's & Means Committee (Where Therese Murray was Chairwoman?)

..... Do you think we'll be getting another "message" from the Legislature they they've grown tired of Holway's arrogance????

You can review Govenor Patrick's full budget recommendation at http://budget.mass.gov/budget/