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Conservatively Speaking

State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) represents parts of four counties: Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, and Walworth. Her Senate District 28 includes New Berlin, Franklin, Greendale, Hales Corners, Muskego, Waterford, Big Bend and parts of Greenfield, East Troy, and Mukwonago. Senator Lazich has been in the Legislature for more than a decade. She considers herself a tireless crusader for lower taxes, reduced spending and smaller government.

I voted against state employee contracts

By Mary Lazich
Wednesday, May 28 2008, 12:47 PM
At a time when Wisconsin continues to struggle with high rates of taxing and spending, a looming structural deficit of over $1.6 billion, high gas and food prices, and per capita income below the national average, hard-working families in the private sector expect state government to exercise fiscal responsibility.

The state Senate is being asked to approve state contracts that according to data I requested from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau would be greater than the increase required for a QEO (Qualified Economic Offer). 

The biennial QEO increase amount would be 7.74 percent. Proposed state employment contract increases over the 2007-09 biennium range from 8.0 percent at the low end to 11.0 percent at the high end.

Many workers across the state struggling to pay their bills and our high taxes can only dream of such increases.

This is an inappropriate time to be offering contract increases beyond the rate of the QEO and beyond the rate of inflation. I voted against the contracts.

Please see Page Two of a memo from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau for comparison of the state employment contract increases to the QEO.
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Comments

Mark Musselman   

Now the state worker’s have even more money which will finance the campaigns of those officials who support such excessive raises.

We need more State Senators with the guts to fight for the tax payers instead of the organized tax recipients.  We also need more citizens who remember this at election time.

Thanks Mary.  Please keep up the good fight.

May 28, 2008 7:00 PM

Rick Melcher   

I took the time to read THE ENTIRE memo from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. I also took the time to review the pay raise the Republican controlled legislature voted for last session that took effect this session. As someone who has been to the "bargaining" table and had to deal with the "QEO", I agree wholeheartedly with the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. Comparing state employee contracts with those controlled by the "QEO" is NOT a valid comparison. The "QEO" must account for fringe benefit payments first. Therefore a "QEO" of say 5% per year may actually involve a pay cut if insurance premiums increase more than that. This does not apply to state contracts including that of Senator Lazich. According to the Office of State Employee Relations the most that state legislators will pay for their health insurance plan this year is $358 per month for the highest level family plan. The pay raise the previous Republican legislature voted for this session from $46,481 on June 24, 2006 to $49,943 on July 8th of this year is a 7.4% raise over the two year period but is not affected by the insurance premium. None of this includes the $44 or $88 per diem legislators recieve when they are in session. Yes that means when they get called into special session for weeks because they did nothing on the budget during the regular session, they get paid $44 or $88 for each of those days.

May 29, 2008 12:24 PM

mrzippy13   

Senator Lazich, how much did your pay increase from last year to this year?  As a state employee, mine increased 2%, and it will increase 1% this year and 2% next year.  That's a 5% pay increase over three years, and that's what you voted against.  If I'm not mistaken, your pay is due to increase by 6.3% in 2009, so what I'm wondering is if you feel state employees don't deserve a 5% raise over three years while you deserve a 6.3% raise in your own salary.

June 20, 2008 9:36 AM

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