Scranton's Public Workers Now Paid Minimum Wage

WARNING OFF TOPIC RANT
What is with the politicians in this country when something like this keeps happening? It isn't just the huge pay cut these people face after putting their lives on the line everyday. Do politicians take a pay cut? Do they have to face losing benefits? After all if you listen to the politicians on TV everyday whining about the "deficit" you'd think they'd want everyone to do their part. Wouldn't you? They complain about the unemployment rate but never seem to talk about all the firefighters and cops losing their jobs or facing pay cuts that place them in the poverty level. All politicians do to earn their pay is talk and show up part time for meetings. Enough is enough. If they want to fight for the rich to keep their tax welfare, then let them pay for it out of their own PAY CHECKS!

Scranton's Public Workers Now Paid Minimum Wage
by JEFF BRADY
July 7, 2012

The city of Scranton, Pa., sent out paychecks to its employees Friday, like it does every two weeks. But this time the checks were much smaller than usual. Mayor Chris Doherty has reduced everyone's pay — including his own — to the state's minimum wage: $7.25 an hour.

Doherty says his city has run out of money.

Scranton has had financial troubles for a couple of decades — the town has been losing population since the end of World War II. But the budget problems became more serious in recent months as the mayor and the city council fought over how to balance the budget.

Doherty wants to raise taxes to fill a $16.8-million gap. The city council wants to take a different approach and borrow money. City council members did not respond to NPR's requests to discuss the dispute.

"I'm trying to do the best I can with the limited amount of funds that I have," Doherty says, "I want the employees to get paid. Our people work hard — our police and fire — I just don't have enough money and I can't print it in the basement."

After paying workers Friday, the city had only about $5,000 left in the bank. More money flowed into city accounts that day, but it was still not enough to pay the $1 million the city still owes to its nearly 400 employees.
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