November 14, 2006
Dear MSCA Members:
As you have probably read in the newspapers, Gov. Romney announced major cuts to the current state budget. Under powers known as his "9C Powers", he plans to freeze $425m in spending previously approved by the legislature. The term "9C" comes from the section of the laws giving the govenor the power to make unilateral cuts. The cuts amount to 1.7% of overall state spending.
Romney announced that his cuts will include a one percent across the board cut with very few exemptions. The list of cuts (see link below) includes significant cuts education, higher ed and state employees accounts.
Insurance Premiums for State Employees Romney cut $30m from the GIC (Group Insurance Commission) line-item funding state employee health insurance coverage. If the funding for this line-item is not restored, state employees' health insurance premiums will increase OR the Romney-controlled GIC could change the health care plans to save $30m.
Cuts to Higher Education Romney cut over $38m from a wide variety of higher education accounts including: $3.7 million from state colleges $3.1 million from community colleges $8.4 million from UMass $14.6 million from UMass collective bargaining reserves $5.8 million from state and community college collective bargaining reserves
NOTE: Since the retroactive pay raises recently approved by the legislature have already been paid to state employees, the effect of this freeze would be to cut the college and university budgets by that same amount.
For a complete listing of the cuts, go to http://www.mass.gov/Agov2/docs/11.10.06.9c.cuts.pdf
What can be done? MTA is asking the legislature to reconvene quickly in order to reverse the 9C cuts. It is unclear as of this writing whether or not the legislature will come back for a special formal session during 2006. Please contact your state legislators and ask them to take action on these cuts as soon as possible.
Message from Arline Isaacson, MTA Governmental Services Division Forwarded by Pat Markunas, MSCA President
Patricia V. Markunas, MSCA President
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