Hourly employee’s over 40 hours overtime is paid. But no benifits and take a 20% wage cut and shut up.

Whats this required furlough hours?

I have to agree with cyclops on this one, but only at the local and state level. In Washington there are vast differences, often measured in terms of life and death.

Can’t disagree with you on this one. These appointments are generally attaboys and attagirls and cross party lines.

I do have several questions for the state controller, AG and Governor, though:

In what way did the commisisoners “break the law?” They voluntarily took furloughs; they didn’t change state law or the salary provision. Keep the money.

If the commishes “broke the law,” shouldn’t they be fined, sanctioned or fired?

If the commishes took days off and are now getting a refund, shouldn’t they forfeit any vacation time, hunting, fishing trips, sick leave etc. until they make up the same number of hours they took off to save pay, the same as anyone else.

Surely, there’s an equitable solution for taxpayers in this latest state snafu???

People who are out of work suddently, cannot find work, or are not “entitled” to unemployment benefits because some benefits “counselor” type makes biased decisions, cannot always pay their taxes on time. That does not make them tax cheats or bad Idahoans or bad Americans. Bully those who have not been impacted by the economy and can pay on time. Most honest citizens make some attempt to pay some portion of their taxes, yet allow themselves to still buy food, gasoline and necessities so they can care for their families and continue to seek employment. That should be good enough until circumstances change. I do not believe in any tax code that allows honest people’s goods to be confiscated, nor do I think the law should allow liens on homes for less than $25,000 or more in tax debts.

Regarding the tax commissioners– statutes and policies are published, they know how to read, they should have known. Now that alleged “sweetheart deals” have been raised by Rep. Shirley Ringo, a Democrat, commissioners are making “nice nice.” This is not a Republican-bashing issue as the Idaho Republican Party chief has intimated…the commissioners fill Republican, Independent and Democratic seats. If the rest of the tax staff must see furloughs and cuts, then so should the commissioners. The statute is elitist and has nothing to do with politics and should be repealed. This is, unfortunately, an at-will state — that means you too public officials! Find a way to cut their pay and benefits commensurate with the rest of us poor idiots who continue allow the cream to rise to the top and sit there until it curdles.