Assemblyman Tom O’Mara (R, I, C-Big Flats) today blasted Governor Paterson for giving out generous “promotions” to his executive staff while forcing the furlough of 100,000 state workers every week until a state budget is enacted.  O’Mara called the promotions the height of fiscal irresponsibility and noted the reckless move will not help bring Public Employee Unions to the negotiation table.

            “With the state facing a $9.2 billion deficit and state workers being placed on week-to-week furloughs, now is not the time to be handing out generous promotions, which are, in fact, taxpayer giveaways for temporary positions,” said O’Mara.  “This blatant disregard for taxpayers is just another egregious example of the governor’s lack of leadership and incompetent negotiating ability.”

            Assemblyman O’Mara noted that this move will hurt the state’s chance to come to any real cost-saving agreement with the state’s public employee unions.

            “To help solve the state’s current fiscal crisis, negotiations must be held with Labor leaders to discuss raises, contracts and the size of the state workforce,” said O’Mara.  “Even though the governor has retracted these raises, only after being blasted publicly, I fear his actions will make these talks impossible and will place the state in a tenuous position with Labor, one that could and needs to be avoided.  With the governor’s repeated failures to practice what he preaches, it is no wonder that he can’t negotiate a budget deal.”