Strawberry Fields Forever

So today, I have my second ever OB/GYN appt. The main reason why I even went to see the OB/GYN last week, besides the fact that I've needed to go for years, is that w/o all that much detail, is Aunt Flo isn't flowing like she should. Couple hours here, three hours there, 20 minutes yesterday, 30 minutes a week ago. . . you get the idea. It's going to be an ultrasound today. Not the kind one thinks of when one is pregnant. Oh no, it's an "endoscopic ultrasound". I'll just leave it at that. If you reall want to know, email me.

Well, I again emailed all the state reps and senators for Berks County again this morning. It may seem like I'm bombarding them, but we're talking not only about my job, and the jobs of my co-workers here in the CAO and those of my friends, but the jobs of over 80,000 people who won't get paid if the PA General Assembly can't get their act together. I don't care if they're Democrat, Republican or Independent. I don't give a rat's ass if they have issues with the Governor or not. All I care about is for the over 80,000 of us who work for the state to get paid on time. If this were to happen in the private sector, you'd bet that everyone would be up in arms about it.

*sigh* So today was the 3rd wk weigh in for my office's Biggest Loser. I lost two inches in the hip/waist area. However I gained 2.9 lbs! :-( This is what I detest about dieting and trying to lose weight. It's either lose weight and feel like I'm always hungry or gain the weight and feel full.

May 13, 2009



Dear Commonwealth Employee:



As the end of the fiscal year approaches, the General Assembly and I are working hard to enact budget before July 1. Experience has taught us, however, that we must prepare for the possibility of an impasse even as we strive to avoid one.



Due to a recent state court decision, the plan for this year is that all employees would continue working as scheduled even if a budget is not enacted before July 1. However, the commonwealth would not be able to pay most employees for work performed in the new fiscal year until a budget is enacted. Health coverage would continue for all employees. Employees paid by special funds that fall outside the executive budget process would continue to receive their pay in a timely manner.



If an impasse were lengthy, employees’ paychecks beginning with the July 17 pay day would not include compensation for hours worked after midnight on June 30. Employees would receive back pay as quickly as possible after a new budget is signed. We estimate that employees’ back pay would be paid no later than 2-4 weeks after the execution of a signed budget.



You will receive specific information from your agency next week as to how a potential budget impasse could affect your pay.



As most of you realize, this approach is different from prior years. After last year’s budget was enacted, Commonwealth Court ruled that during a budget impasse, the Pennsylvania Constitution prohibits the payment of wages to any employee whose funding is subject to the enactment of a signed budget, regardless of the employee’s position. The court held that the federal law governing timely payment of wages does not pre-empt the Pennsylvania constitutional requirement that public funds be expended only from appropriations passed by the legislature and approved by the governor. As a result, all employees may continue to work until a budget is passed. However, until the budget is enacted, the commonwealth is authorized to pay only those employees whose funding falls outside of the budget process.



I know that delayed pay would present a significant financial challenge for many of you. I wanted to provide you with as much advance notice as possible so that you might begin planning for this potential disruption.



Please know that I will work diligently with the General Assembly to enact a budget before the June 30, 2009 deadline.



Sincerely,



Edward G. Rendell

Governor