Day 24 without a budget.  I had a visit today from some folks from AFSCME who are primarily concerned about not getting paid.  It is interesting to talk to people, and I do it daily with emails, about the misinformation they are fed from either their union leadership or the administration.  They thought that I was being paid, I said that I haven’t been paid since June 1^st.  Then they asked me about all of the per diem money I am making during this budget impasse, I explained that I never take per diems and that the Senate isn’t paying per diems during the budget impasse.  They thought that I had taken a vacation this year, I ask them when.  I have either been in Harrisburg or the district working and that we are on 6 hour call around the clock if something breaks.  They asked me why the Senators don’t contribute to their retirement or health insurance plans like other state employees, I told them that we do.  Anyway, the real point of their meeting on the sidewalk today was to demonstrate for a paycheck.  The Governor’s decision to not pay state workers is wrong and I have said this each year since I have been in office.  Each year the Governor uses a different legal argument to not pay essential or non-essential employees, furlough people or have all state employees work without pay.  One of the ladies said to me that if I believe what I say, then I should stand with them and carry a sign stating just what I told them, so I did.  She gave me her sign that said, “Stop Payless Paydays”.  I carried it proudly with about 30 state employees who should get what they deserve.

- John