Enough state-worker bashing

Editorial by the Helena IR - 08/24/06

Yeah, it's just a coincidence that a group sponsoring ads that accuse state employees of giving poor service and being overpaid just happens to be targeting Montana and three other states that have spending-cap measures either pending or already on the ballot.

Sure it is.

The latest ad from the Center for Union Facts portrays state Motor Vehicle Division workers as hostile providers of poor service, and contends they are overpaid because of union contracts. That drew a quick response from Montana Attorney General Mike McGrath, who said those employees do "an exemplary job at a wage that is barely livable." Examiners in the division's field offices make an average of $13.31 an hour, with license clerks starting at $8.37. To call that overpaid is "laughable," McGrath said.

But there's nothing particularly funny about insulting a whole class of workers to make a ham-handed anti-government political point. State employees care as much about their jobs -providing vital public services - as any private-sector employee does. And the vast majority of them certainly don't make more money than their private counterparts.

As is the case with backers of Montana's spending-cap ballot measure, the Center for Union Facts refuses to reveal the sources of its money.

But then, how important is that we know exactly who they are? It's not as though we're taking any of what they say seriously.