Here's A Nugget From The Streambed...

[WillyT]

SSA praises court ruling regarding "illegal" furloughs of state employees
January 4, 6:06 PM - Tucson Disability Examiner - Cyndi Segroves

<snip>

January 4, 2010, Social Security Administration issued a statement praising recent decisions by the California Superior Court for Alameda County. Will Arizona learn a lesson from its neighbor to the west or will it continue down its path of destruction?

Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, issued the following statement regarding two recent decisions of the California Superior Court for the County of Alameda:

"When it comes to the furlough of state employees whose jobs are paid for by federal funds, California Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch ruled state officials have 'abused their discretion' and that 'such a policy is arbitrary, capricious and unlawful.' I could not agree more.

For more than a year, I have made the case that these furloughs cost states money, hurt their most vulnerable citizens, and harm hard-working civil servants. California’s furlough of Disability Determination Service (DDS) employees costs the state $849,000 per furlough day in administrative funding. More importantly, each furlough day results in a delay costing California’s disabled citizens over $420,000 in much-needed Social Security benefits. For the sake of the citizens of California, I call on Governor Schwarzenegger to reject his own failed policy and not appeal the court's ruling.

Social Security funds 100 percent of DDS employees’ salaries as well as all overhead costs -- about $2 billion nationwide this year. These funds cannot be used by the states for any other purpose, so states do not save a single penny by furloughing employees in the DDSs – they only slow getting benefits to the disabled, unduly harm its civil servants, and cost the state needed tax revenue. Nevertheless, about a dozen governors are imposing similar across-the-board hiring freezes or furloughs that also affect DDS employees. I sincerely hope Congress will use its oversight authority to investigate not just California, but the other states that are using -- or have used -- furloughs and hiring freezes for positions that are fully funded by the Social Security Administration and other federal agencies."

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Link: http://www.examiner.com/x-23150-Tucson-Disability-Examiner~y2010m1d4-SSA-praises-court-ruling-regarding-illegal-furloughs-of-state-employees

This is of particular interest to me because I work for EDD in CA processing unemployment forms in a timely manner so that the unemployed can get payed on time. We've been known to do over 300,000 forms in a single day. EDD gets most of its funding from the Federal Government, yet we've been furloughed too. And yeah... it does screw up the works but good.

Maybe that's the plan... sort of a backdoor Shock Doctrine. Doesn't matter which party is in charge of what... when your check is late, missing, denied, or being litigated... You're just pissed at government, and all that that entails.

:shrug:

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. THAT's how they will cut the "entitlement" programs.

Use budget problems as an excuse to stop payments to "the useless eaters".
One of the major goals of the RWing party is to destroy SS and Medicare, all the "socialist" programs.

[WillyT]

2. That's Exactly What I Am Coming To Believe !!!

I think you nailed it dixiegrrrrl.

:shrug:

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. Disaster Capitalism, and all that.

And, it has been done before.
History can be valuable in these times.

[WillyT]

4. Kick !!!

:kick: