Governor Donald Carcieri is the Deficit King

There was a recent mention in a Providence Journal column regarding the budget deficit that Governor Donald Carcieri's own office is running in this recession. Seems like the Republican that is more than willing to jump all over the Democrats for deficit spending has been leading the way. It sort of reminds me of all of the deficit spending during the Bush years. Mark Sanford of South Carolina, the nation's leading hypocrite is also called to mind.

What has gone on in our own Governor's office is no joke. First of all; I can't believe for the life of me, why the Governor's office needs $4.7 million per year. Rhode Island is such a small state that no Governor needs more than a handful of employees to get the job done. This much money in Rhode Island today translates into over 50 employees. Are you kidding me? I can see the office employing 15 employees and a few interns. Under no circumstances, should that office be costing citizens more than $1.5 million per year.

Now our business minded governor is suppose to have some sense when it comes to managing the people's money. He certainly has gone out of his way to take what he can away from the dedicated state employees that are not part of his office. Carcieri's office running a projected $589,218 deficit for the current fiscal year is about the most outrageous news I've heard emanating from the State House. I think it's criminal!

Let me put a little perspective on this. Multiple divisions within the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) operated on far less than this. A good example is the Environmental Police. Last I knew, the number of officers covering the entire state is in the vicinity of 35. That's 35 employees to handle duties on the Bay and throughout Rhode Island, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Environmental Police play a key role in keeping our food supply safe. Heck, the DEM Environmental Police force is only half the size of my town's Police Department.

The Governor's Office has become so bloated under Carcieri's leadership that the Legislature really needs to step up to the plate here. Carcieri is very reluctant to entertain hiring anybody outside of his immediate circle; however, when it is something that he personally wants, he will pursue it at the expense of everyone else. We don't need a Steve Cass employed, Mr. Carcieri. His job is meaningless.

I urge the Legislature to start cutting the 2010 budget by reducing the Governor's Office by $3.2 million to a more respectable and adequate $1.5 million. I would suggest privatizing the Governor's Office because Mr. Carcieri likes that strategy, but we all know that it would end up costing us more.

tomtoak