buyouts

Governor Bredesen on the buyouts:

“I urged them to focus on middle management, which like in any business tends to get a little big around the middle,” Bredesen told reporters after a bill signing ceremony.

By THEO EMERY • Staff Writer (Tennessean) • June 17, 2008

State workers will begin checking mailboxes after buyout packets went out Monday to about 12,000 employees, an effort to trim about 2,000 positions and cut $64 million from next year's budget.

Today is the day, Cara Kumari reports that the budget cutting state employee buyout packages will be mailed out today:

Once again, our favorite blogging state house reporter is on the case with some more news on the state employee buyout.

A Washington Post reporter explains why his organization doesn’t cover third parties:

We'd better hope that Kunstler is swimming out in the deep end of

Plan includes cash, college, health care
By JENNIFER BROOKS • Staff Writer (Tennessean) • May 20, 2008

A fat cash payout, extended health benefits and free college tuition are part of the buyout deal the state plans to offer to its workers this summer as Gov. Phil Bredesen tries to balance the state's budget.

Ken Whitehouse reports on new developments with the Bredesen buyouts:

[I]t appears that the buy-out package will clear the legislature, but that the layoffs will be delayed until Jan. 1.

Via the Associated Press:

House members held private meetings over the weekend to discuss Gov. Phil Bredesen’s proposal to cut 2,000 state employees through voluntary buyouts.

Uh, no one in state government is capable of managing the books? Bredesen says no, sir…let’s send the dollars northward.  By law, does this have to be put out to bid, or does the Governor just get to dial and send the check? Did he even offer any other companies an invitation?