Class Warfare and the Governor

Class Warfare and the Governor

If the governor (Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin) really wants to level the playing field and end the budget crisis, then why does he not look to his own house?  Literally.  Consider the Governor’s Mansion.  Is it fair that the governor should get publicly subsidized housing?  Since he believes so strongly in privatizing everything, then why doesn’t he privatize the Governor’s Mansion?  Sell it to a private entity, then he could rent it and pay the utilities on it like any other citizen would.  Or sell it to a private person to be used as a B&B, and go rent an apartment or house somewhere else. 

And how about his limousine/s?  How many state-owned vehicles do they have anyway?  They could privatize the entire fleet, and anyone using them could lease them out of their own pay, or pay a fee-per-ride much like with a taxi service.  Or they could just sell the entire fleet and everybody use their own vehicles for travel.   If it is legitimate business travel they could get reimbursed for their mileage.

And then there is the salary matter.  The Governor’s annual salary is $137,092; I don’t have information on his benefits—pension, health insurance--or on other allowances, such as for housing, vehicle, entertaining, etc.   Has he offered to take a pay cut, or to pay more for his benefits?  And as for the legislators, they each receive an annual salary of $49,943, plus $88 per diem; I suppose the per diem is for actual days in session.   How many days are they in session, anyway, for that salary?  What are their benefits—pension, health insurance, etc.  Have they offered to take a cut in salary or to pay more for their benefits? 

Jus’ wond’rin’

Gramma Windy