Even though the article "bashes" Republican governors, it is a good read.
Some snippets:
New York State is paying 10 times more for state employees' pensions than it did just a decade ago. In all, the salaries and benefits of state employees add up to $18.5 billion, or a fifth of New York's operating budget.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has pursued a reasonable course, making it clear that he expects public unions to make sacrifices, starting with a salary freeze. He wants to require greater employee contributions to pensions and health benefits, with a goal of saving $450 million.
Negotiations begin this month, but so far union leaders have publicly resisted Mr. Cuomo’s proposals. If they don’t budge, Mr. Cuomo says he will have to lay off up to 9,800 workers. That would damage the state’s struggling economy. Some compromise must be found.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/06/op...=1&ref=opinion
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