Home | Business News | Browse by Publication | T | The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR)

Letters in the Editor''s Mailbag.

Article Excerpt
Byline: The Register-Guard

Why seek pay raises?

I was honestly undecided about Measure 28 until about a week before the election. At that point, the daily litany of "horrible things that will happen" in The Register-Guard got to be a bit too much. That, coupled with the fact that the various public employee unions were already starting to ask for pay raises, made me start to see a disconnect.

If the state is really facing such a dire emergency, why are public employees asking for a pay and benefit increases while the rest of us out here working in the private sector don't even think about raises and are happy just to have a job?

MIKE BROOKS Coburg,

Voters tired of threats

Are the majority of Oregonians selfish for saying no to Measure 28? Are they really so broke that they could not afford the extra outlay? I believe there is another message here.

The taxpayers are plain tired of threats and are demanding some action of our legislators and department managers. Close departments that are less than vital. Cut off funding for more of the "feel-good" programs. Clamp down hard on the huge Public Employees Retirement System problem. Get us out of the liquor business and many other non-essential ventures. Talk tough with the unions by offering a choice of wage reductions or layoffs. Show us how you can really spend within your means and fight the huge special interests that expect increases each year. Get some fresh...