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OPEA Responds to State of the State Address

OKLAHOMA CITY (February 1, 2010) – The Oklahoma Public Employees Association voiced concern about the priorities mentioned in the State of the State address.

 

“We are awaiting the details in the budget,” said OPEA Executive Director Sterling Zearley.  “However, we are concerned that protecting the basic functions of state government were not priorities in the speech.”

 

“Oklahoma’s response to the recent storms mentioned in the Governor’s speech would not have been so successful if it were not for the state workers who toiled night and day in dangerous conditions to ensure public safety, while citizens remained protected in their homes,” Zearley said.  “Safeguarding these critical programs and the dedicated public servants who deliver them was not mentioned.

 

“The Governor said we cannot balance the budget at the expense of the most vulnerable among us,” continued Zearley.  “We hope the details of the budget will indicate how he plans to protect the programs that serve the most vulnerable, such as caring for veterans and the disabled or human services that provide a safety net for families.

 

“OPEA agrees that mental health and substance abuse services are critical to lowering our incarceration rate and improving the quality of life for thousands of Oklahomans,” said Zearley.  “However, the safety net of treatment beds has been slashed in the recent budget agreement. One step to accomplishing the goal would be to restore the beds recently lost in the system.

 

“The Governor states that he will not tolerate or will fight any cuts to education,” said Zearley.  “However, the budgets of the programs that make up more than half of our state spending cannot be immune to scrutiny and cuts, while basic critical functions of government take the brunt of the shortfall.”

 

“The bottom line is, in recent years, Oklahoma has implemented Cadillac programs of which the Governor takes great pride,” concluded Zearley.  “However, the basic functions of government that are critical to the lives of Oklahomans are suffering.  We heard nothing in the State of the State to address the problems of a long-ignored human and physical infrastructure.”

 

Read a copy of the Governor's speech by clicking here.

 

Posted on Mon, February 1, 2010 by Mark Beutler

11 comments (Add your own)

1. Dave wrote:
I noticed education is once again a top priority. It should be, but there are many places in education that should be cut. For example, there are way too many superintendents making more than State School Superintendent Sandy Garrett's $124K annual salary. EDUCATION CAN AND SHOULD BE CUT!

Tue, February 2, 2010 @ 9:28 AM

2. FattCatt wrote:
Dave,

I agree, what scares me is, when he was talking about State employees he spent roughly 2 minutes asking congress to use a scalpel to cut state jobs and how we are people with families. Then when it came to education he spent 15 – 20 minutes on how great and how far Oklahoma has come and that more work is still needed to be done...translation no cuts to the teachers and education and State employees need to start looking for another job.

Again teachers get it all and State employees get the shaft!

Lobby Day March 6, BE THERE!

>*X*<

Tue, February 2, 2010 @ 12:29 PM

3. Gail wrote:
Newsok.com is reporting that the Corporation Commission has announced eight furlough days for its employees. Now let me see, how many furlough days did teachers receive? That's right folks--not one. Batten down the hatches, they are coming after state employees!

Tue, February 2, 2010 @ 1:18 PM

4. Bob wrote:
With State Employees beginning to go to the new pay system of being paid every two weeks (26 weeks) instead of monthly (12 months) and I was already having it rough of not having any kind of cost of living adjustment for years to keep up with everything going up. Now with me getting paid every 2 weeks I'm making less then $236 dollars a month, now I will eventually get that money back in July & December but its hard getting paid less each month 10 out of the 12 months now. Another way to screw State Employees!

Can anyone remember the last time State Employees got any kind of a pay raise? I think it has been maybe around 8 to 10 years.

Tue, February 2, 2010 @ 2:14 PM

5. FattCatt wrote:
Bob,

We received a 5% increase in 2006. It is also when State employees started taking OPEA for granted, looking at them as some all mighty dragon slayer that will kill all foes for us. State employees have felt in the past their involvement with the association was not necessary. OPEA has preformed this last year well over and beyond my expectations. When OJA started trying to pull a fast one OPEA was on top of it and saved several peoples jobs. Recently DOC jobs were on the chopping block and I thought for sure someone will be losing their job this time…OPEA pulled threw and saved those jobs as well. But they cannot continue to maintain this level of excel lent’s without our help. We must add some muscle to the exceptional work OPEA has started. Whether you are a member or not everyone MUST be in full force together on Lobby Day! This time it’s not just for ourselves or getting a raise but, for the safety and well being of the Oklahoma citizen…and if we ever do want to get a raise we are going to have show up next year…right now it’s about saving our jobs. We need to continue to show up every year, the teachers show up in full force every year and get what they want. Granted we do have a Governor who’s wife is a former teacher however; State employees never challenge the need for more money as the teacher’s do…very few State employees showed up for our Lobby Day…the teachers showed up in full force for their Lobby Day. The squeaky wheel gets the grease…state employees have been silent for the last 4 years and as far as our Congress knows State employees are happy being the WORST paid in the nation. At this point of the game we have no one to blame but ourselves and I know the last 4 years it have been difficult for OPEA to represent State employee when we don’t want to even help ourselves.
State employees do have a all mighty dragon slayer in OPEA we just need to provide the muscle and help wield the sword!
LOBBY DAY March 9, 2010 BE THERE…NO EXCUSES!

>*X*<

Tue, February 2, 2010 @ 4:36 PM

6. ##### wrote:
we still need a gov married to a social worker.

Thu, February 4, 2010 @ 10:03 AM

7. Renee wrote:
People don't come to Lobby day for several reasons. One is the state employees act so bad & then they beg for money. Another reason is people who work for the state are BUSY with their jobs. That is why they pay OPEA-to REPRESENT them. I am so tired of everything being blamed on state employees not showing up for "Lobby Day". OPEA people are PAID to do this. Let's look at whether they do their job correctly or whether they don't & like to blame someone else for their lack of ability to represent state employees appropriately.

Fri, February 5, 2010 @ 8:14 AM

8. Tom wrote:
Renee,

The legislature looks at numbers, i.e. membership, who shows up for a lobby day etc. OPEA has approx. 10,000 members active and retired state employees out of about 38,000 state employees OEA (Oklahoma Educational Association) has over 42,000 members, nearly 100% participation. The Oklahoma Troopers Association has 100% participation. This is why the legislature listens to teacher, troopers, etc. It is all about the numbers. I understand that some people cannot get off of work to travel to OKC because they work at 24hr facilities. But there are enough state employees that work in the capitol complex that could come over for even an hour and show the legislature we mean business.

Lobby Day March 9, 2010 BE THERE!

Fri, February 5, 2010 @ 12:00 PM

9. Christie Biggs wrote:
I have read these statements and it amazing how anyone can think that the staff for OPEA is paid to represent us over at the capital. WHAT THE STAFF IS PAID TO DO IS TO HELP THE STATE EMPLOYEES REPRESENT OUR INTEREST AND THEY FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE MEMBERS. There is more them one way to get to the legislature then at the lobby day, HAVE YOU CALLED YOUR LEGISLATURE IN YOUR AREA, HAVE YOU ATTENDED A TOWEN HALL MEETING IN YOUR AREA TO LET YOUR LEGISLATURE KNOW WHAT YOUR CONCERNS ARE, YOU VOTED FOR HIM TALK TO HIM AND LET HIM KNOW THAT THE STATE ISSUES ARE JUST IMPORTANT AS EDUCATION. REMEMBER WE ALL COULD HAVE BEEN STUCK IN OUR HOUSES LONGER IF IT WASN'T FOR STATE WORKERS OUT THERE BUSTING *****. YES A RAISE WOULD BE NICE, BUT HOW ABOUT US HANGING ON TO WHAT WE DO HAVE LIKE OUR INSURANCE, OUR LONGATIVE, AND WORKERS IN THE AGENCY.

Fri, February 5, 2010 @ 12:33 PM

10. FattCatt wrote:
Renee,

If you have a pulse you would know your job is on the chopping block so, you go ahead a make excuses and when you are told to go home that you no longer have a job then you can ask yourself if it’s worth not showing up to Lobby Day to catch up on work you soon wont have to do...makes allot of since to me...NOT! So, you are telling me you can’t show up for just 30 minutes at lunch time to keep you job...Bull S!&$! OPEA is our watch dog not our bitch. If someone was breaking into your home or car and your dog started barking, it’s up to you to get up off your lazy ass and see what the dog is barking about.
When OPEA is at the Capitol yes, they represent us however; OPEA can’t take bites out of our lawmaker’s ass with no teeth. State employees are OPEA’s teeth and it’s hard to chew on their butts if OPEA has only 1/3 of their teeth.
So go ahead make excuses...that’s OK because from the attitude you have, I bet you will be the first one to go!

NO MORE EXCUSES! LOBBY DAY MARCH 9, 2010
BE THERE!

>*X*<

Fri, February 5, 2010 @ 12:48 PM

11. Dixie wrote:
Renee - OPEA does represent state employees every day at the State Capitol. However, your local legislator needs to hear from you. You are the person who elects them, you are the person that they want to work in their campaigns. All politics are local. So while the OPEA staff does a great job every day they need to have each of us step up to the plate with our stories. That is why is so important for each state employee to attend town hall meetings, get to know your local state representative and Senator on a first name basis and yes if at all possible attend Lobby Day. Lobby days have been going on for over 30 years and I have yet to miss one. You would be suprised at how much information you come away with and knowing that you are investing in your own future has to make you feel a sense of accomplishment. So while not every state employee can get off because of work schedules, you can certainly make phone calls to your local legislator and let him or her know your issues and concerns. Employees in the Oklahoma City Metro area can take their lunch time and come across to make the numbers count.
Does Lobby Day make a difference. You bet it does. Legislators actually get to see the person behind the name and that makes a big difference.

Sat, February 6, 2010 @ 4:35 PM

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