The past couple weeks we’ve been snooping around the Legislative Branch of gubmint in Frankfort to see what sort of hypocritical treats we can discover. And whattya know? It sure seems like David Williams & Crew can talk the talk but refuse to walk the walk. Williams and the rest of legislative leadership – including Greg Stumbo/Larry Clark – are hot to demand Governor Steve Beshear slash executive branch spending left and right. But they’re never keen on reeling in their own spending.
So let’s take yet another look at the Legislative Research Commission.
There are currently 506 employees listed in the LRC telephone directory. Meaning those folks likely have office space and are sucking down tons of cash from the state coffers. There are 193 additional names listed in the State Journal’s published account of LRC shenanigans. Bringing the grand total to 699. Probably, what, 200 of them are strictly session employees? They’ll be gone after the General Assembly comes to a close on April 15.
The remaining 500 will continue to work in the legislative branch despite the budget saying no more than 232 will be employed. 270 people are employed as part-time and apparently don’t count against that fictitious amount of 232. This way Joe Blow on the street thinks everything is modest and well cared for by the legislature. Cute, isn’t it?
The Senate budget makes a big deal out of cutting the legislature’s Long-Term Policy Research Center, employing something like five people. The Center costs about a million bucks over the course of two years. That little office? It’s the closest thing Kentucky’s got to a non-partisan and unbiased think tank. Maybe the only organization producing reliable information about the state’s problems. Why cut it? Primarily because David Williams & Crew don’t enjoy having bad news delivered to legislators who would prefer to ignore reality.
Makes you feel warm and fuzzy about the legislature, doesn’t it? Potentially one of the most wasteful government messes in all of the Commonwealth. It’s nothing but smoke and mirrors.
14 responses so far ↓
1 AttentionWhore // Apr 2, 2010 at 12:54 pm
Where there is government — there is waste!
Keep digging!
2 Robert // Apr 2, 2010 at 5:21 pm
I don’t know if you are promoting cutting funding for the LRC, but if you are, I’m really going to have to disagree with you. The LRC staff works harder than anybody in the government during the session, and without them, the legislature would be an even bigger joke. They need a bigger budget and more staff, if anything.
3 jtt // Apr 2, 2010 at 6:23 pm
We have 138 legislators and almost twice that many full time employees at the LRC. Some work very hard, I agree, others are just fluff. And I’ll note, what in the h*ll do they do the rest of the year?
4 esper // Apr 2, 2010 at 10:57 pm
Have to agree with Robert. You’re way off track. Anyone who’s ever dealt withe the LRC staff knows how sharp and professional they are. If only the rest of government were such pros.
5 esper // Apr 4, 2010 at 9:54 am
Most professional staff in state government, bar none.
6 jake // Apr 5, 2010 at 8:06 am
Not sure where I advocated cuts to the LRC…?
Just pointing out what a smoke and mirrors job it is and how HUNDREDS of people are hidden on the payroll. Literally hundreds.
BUT.
If we’ve gotta cut people from the executive branch and judicial branches of government? There’s no reason we shouldn’t cut from the legislative. Especially when a bunch of those folks are merely there as favors to David Williams and Bobby Sherman.
7 esper // Apr 5, 2010 at 4:47 pm
Well, when you call the LRC ‘one of the most wasteful government messes in all of the Commonwealth,’ I would have to assume you mean cuts.
I used to be a reporter, and the only staff in state government that I actually looked forward to dealing with was at the LRC. I bet you’d have to admit the same, if we juiced you up on truth serum.
This boner you’ve suddenly developed to slam the one staff in state governemt that actually delivers more than full value to the citizenry is puzzling in extremis.
8 jake // Apr 5, 2010 at 5:03 pm
Puzzling?
The legislative branch can’t rightly complain about Steve Beshear’s staff while there are hundreds of hidden staffers at LRC.
Jesus christ, you people are uptight.
9 esper // Apr 5, 2010 at 5:11 pm
You find the LRC staff gives good service or no? Reporter to ex-reporter.
10 jake // Apr 5, 2010 at 5:17 pm
There are HUNDREDS of people hidden as part-time. Hundreds. It sometimes takes weeks to get information covered by sunshine laws. And people like David Williams pay people back with sweet jobs.
The executive and judicial branches, which I have criticized just as I am criticizing the legislative, are not the only areas of government flushing money down the toilet.
But to answer your question? I know more than ten people employed by the LRC who receive paychecks but never go to work. Never go to work. Ever.
So stop with the horse shit spin.
11 esper // Apr 5, 2010 at 5:26 pm
Sorry. Not spinning. Just speaking from my own experience, as an old and retired ink-stained wretch who admires what you’re doing in this new media, but worries that in the exuberance of youth, you’re wasting fire on a target that doesn’t deserve it, and in fact is with the good guys.
Keep up the good work, but pick your targets better and you’ll be taken more seriously.
Thanks for this site. We need it.
12 jake // Apr 5, 2010 at 5:29 pm
My targets?
I could go through the LRC roster person by person and point out the folks who don’t do shit, if you’d like.
The LRC employs folks beyond those who do actual work.
And this mess of hiding employees as part-timers when they’re doing full-time work and receive mega bucks? Please.
The legislative branch is no less deserving of wasteful spending criticism than any other branch of government.
13 esper // Apr 5, 2010 at 5:50 pm
OK. Keep up the good work, son!
14 jake // Apr 5, 2010 at 5:53 pm
P.S. I didn’t finish answering your question!
Yes, I think the LRC does tremendous work.
Also know a bunch of folks in the Executive and Judicial who toil away for little pay and do so happily. But those two branches aren’t as secretive and sneaky about money.
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