State Employees Really Paid More – In a recent article, USA Today reported on the national trend of public employees getting higher salaries and benefits than private workers. It seems as though the influx of public union protests from last year (2011) may not have been reflective of the status of the workers.

The report shows that state and local government workers make similar salaries to their private sector counterparts. The big difference, however, is how generous the public worker’s benefits are.

If you look at the data from the USA Today report you can see the disparity between public and private workers. Essentially you’re looking at the public workers compensation (salary + value of benefits) and the difference in what the average of that particular state’s private workers receive. If the difference has a + they are making more and a – means they are making less.  Click on the above link to view each state.

Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis; USA TODAY analysis

To Continue Reading: http://frugalzeitgeist.com/state-employees-really-paid-more/

• Now Montana Policy Institute supplied the data from the state of Montana on their website the wages of state employees, (there was a large outcry from state employees) but the national evaluation on Montana is listed on there at +$7,369 difference from the public sector.  Let’s continue to see what the national evaluation has to say about the state of Montana.  

Best and Worst Run States in America — An Analysis Of All 50

27. Montana
> State debt per capita: $4,903 (11th highest)
> Pct. without health insurance: 17.3% (13th highest)
> Pct. below poverty line: 14.6% (tied for 19th highest)
> Unemployment: 7.7% (20th lowest)

Montana’s neighbor, Wyoming, has a debt per capita of $2,452 and a AAA rating. Montana state debt per resident is almost exactly double that, and the state has a AA rating to show for it. Despite the fact that the state’s debt is higher, it actually spends significantly less per person in most key areas than Wyoming. The state has a high percentage of high school graduates among its adult population and a healthy housing market, but otherwise does relatively poorly. The state is worse than average in health insurance coverage and poverty. It also has the 11th lowest median household income in the U.S.

Read more: Best and Worst Run States in America — An Analysis Of All 50 – 24/7 Wall St. http://247wallst.com/2011/11/28/best-and-worst-run-states-in-america-an-analysis-of-all-50/#ixzz24XeCLPBz

• So, we see a major pattern in the state of Montana.  Although there is gloating of surplus funds, there is not in all reality.  Montana is very much in debt.   State employees have more benefits than just the health coverage, they also seem to have the “get out of jail free card” no one goes to prison in the state employee sector, well unless it benefits the key people in the state.  That “get out of jail free card” is priceless.

• Montana citizens did you see that statement in that article?  “Despite the fact that the state’s debt is higher, it actually spends significantly less per person in most key areas..”   I have been telling you all along that there are those that get the steak and the rest are getting (forget hamburger) chopped liver.    You don’t have to take my word or opinion…do the research.  I have given you national articles on Montana, a national report card for the State of Montana (which we fail miserably), I have given you links to websites that has the data of the Montana salaries http://www.opengovmt.org/, I have provided state news links with evidence of corruption, cherry-picking of not only inmates but who deserves to live well and who does not.  Look at any of the links on the left side bar and they will tell you everything. 

•  You have seen comments provided from inmates families that have said that state employees staff within DOC and other fields treat them horrible but yet some of these same staff are committing felonies.   It is not just DOC that tells families and Montana citizens that they have no rights and visiting is just a privilege.  That goes throughout all the state departments it seems.   We have no rights, we have no reason to expect things to change for us.    Montana are you going to allow this to continue? Are you tired of this yet?  Are you going to decide that it is time for a change instead?  Again, know where your candidates stand on these issues.   Again, I emphasize, if there is corruption, it needs to go.   And cowboys and cowgirls we have plenty of it here in Montana!