Cut size of government

Roger, your letter is spot on! It appears that the role and mission of government has grown into a reverse Robin Hood story. Take from those who work and have...and redistribute to those who don't want to and don't have; the tip of the sword in Sherwood Forest has been replaced by the tax form on April 15th. If you really want to have your eyes opened take a look at www.maineopengov.org. People who are working three jobs or are part of the 9% plus unemployed will definately get a thrill out of seeing the salaries and benefits given to those who serve them. I am sure some in Augusta want this site closed down, as I overheard while walking through the statehouse. Those of us familiar with the governmental budget process have seen how the game is played at the local, state and federal level...always offer up the sacred cows...those that will attract a crowd to the statehouse steps...instead of the Third Deputy Assistant to the Undersecretary of Whatever. Is it any wonder I heard on the radio today, that two thirds of the voters polled think those in Congress right now should be turned out in the next election? Hardly, but they need to get off their duffs and go vote! Next election is Nov 3rd!

Government should be run as effecient as a business.
When your spending other peoples moneys you don't have the incentive to be very frugal with it. When Taber #2 is the law, things will change in that direction.

One area this state can save money is by blocking all nonessental websites from being accessed by state owned computers. There is no need for state employees to have access to personal email, any of the instant messaging websites, online poker or other like sites, facebook, online dating sites, ect..... The company I contract with doesn't allow these sites to be accessed while on the company network. It is a very easy setup to block these types of sites. Perhaps any state property should also be smoke free also. I am in agreement that many, many state employees could be let go. I have seen abuses time and time again and if they actually worked the 8 hours they get paid for it can happen. The private sector has cut, cut, and cut. It is time that our gov't actually do the same instead of using the elderly or children as a scapegoat as to why they can't. All we seem to hear is about is what new things can be taxed. We should be looking at ways to cut taxes by reducing the fat.

Government should not be run like a business. Businesses and Government have different structures, different purposes and goals, and most importantly different governance. But if you would like to run it like a business you have to vote NO on 4. What business has an inflexible budget process that does not respond to business cycles.
But Maine tries. Government has adopted the Harvard Business school model of management by headcount - outsource, insource with contractors, temporary employees. Its a disaster because their is little institutional knowledge.
Jon Albrecht Dixfield

tron, everyone knows that for years the governor of this state was underpaid, heck even I make almost as much as he does. But lets also admit, its a weak governor form of government here, our legislature does most of the heavy lifting and even heavier spending,all this governor does is hire more assistants than any previous governor did - just do ae search and find out how many were on staff at mam Baldacci;s before and you'll understand the concerns of many. And Jal - this state government is so blaoted asd to redefine the word itself. Oh and how about that $200 Million lost by DHHS thats still not found, nor will it ever be. Just compare our budget to NH which has very simialr population and emographics...why is there state budget so much smaller, other than in transportation where our state maintains ore roads. Adopt federal standards for welfare programs and nothing more! Vote yes on 4

Jabba, yes we can deny that state government is bloated. The Brookings Report that fairly analyzed state government found only two areas of what you might call bloat. Too many school districts with too many administrators and managers throughout state government but particularly DOT and MRS. Many of these positions are long gone.
State workers are not over-compensated. They generally have lower pay but better benefits than private businesses. Unfortunately, irresponsible anlaysis done be groups like the MHPC create this false conclusion that state employees are over-compensated. A position by position analysis like those done by payroll companies will show differences mainly in benefits.
Can we do more, of course and we should.
But the mindless attempt to reduce government and sacrifice essential public services is unacceptable to all but a few irresponsible, self-serving, greedy, folks like Mr. Heutz. He is right in one area. Far too much of the tax burden is on the poor who pay at twice the rate that all other Mainers pay. After the tax reform package is implemented, we need to find a way to reduce the property tax from 44% of all taxes collected to something around 30% which will go a long way relieving the burden on the poor.
Jon Albrecht Dixfield

Government should be run like most businesses. Instead of hiring more individuals they should be concentrating on making each employee more efficient which allows a greater work load, hence reducing cost impact of carrying additional overhead.

When are you harping on the state, Mr. Heutz? Why not start locally, where you have the most direct control? You want the Governor to take a pay cut, but Lewiston just appointed a DEPUTY Police Chief who will earn 15K MORE than the Governor. And the Police Chief earns even more. All this to manage a 100 person force? Yet the Governor has a much larger workforce to manage, budget to manage and responsibilities that the local cops couldn't dream of, yet you accept their salaries without complaint. NO ONE in this state should earn more than the Governor, just like no one in the Federal government earns more than the President. And this President didn't even get a raise, unlike his predecessor who got his salary DOUBLE.