OKLAHOMA CITY (January 12, 2010) – In light of the continuing state budget shortfall, the Oklahoma Public Employees Association says it’s time state workers stop facing the brunt of the axe.
“Any time Oklahoma has a budget problem, the cuts seem to fall on the backs of state employees,” said OPEA spokesman Mark Beutler. “Agencies have been cut all they can cut without it starting to affect our citizens. It’s time we make sure common and higher education face the same cuts, as well as private contractors who make money off the state. Is it any less important protecting our children than it is educating them? Our elderly and our veterans also need our help.”
Oklahoma has been in the grip of an unprecedented budget crunch, with state agencies facing upwards of 10 percent cuts.
“So far it’s state employees who have faced the most severe cuts, with many of our dedicated public servants being RIFd or furloughed,” Beutler said. “Now it’s time we take a look outside the box. Whether that means cutting funds to education or to contractors, consolidating school districts, we are saying enough is enough. State agencies, public employees and our citizens can’t afford services to be reduced any further.”
Oklahoma Public Employees Association (www.opea.org) is a non-profit labor organization that has represented the interests of state employees at the Capitol in Oklahoma since 1975.
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Posted on
Tue, January 12, 2010
by Mark Beutler