On Point Vincent Carroll, editor of the editorial pages, writes his On Point column most weekdays. He is also an author and freelance writer. Reach Vincent Carroll at carrollv@RockyMountainNews.com.

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You just knew Gov. Bill Ritter would have a very good reason for moving toward collective bargaining for state workers despite the obvious dangers to the Colorado budget. You knew the move couldn’t be a crass political payoff to the union movement that supports his party.

Perish the thought!

Now, thanks to the Rocky’s Chris Barge, we can begin to discern what might have prodded the governor into this unprecedented decision. As an article Monday revealed, Colorado government employees rank a disgraceful ninth place in compensation among the 50 states.

That’s right: Eight other states pay their workers more than Colorado. Eight!

It’s intolerable, of course. Surely a state poised to fulfill Ritter’s “Colorado Promise” ought to rank in the top two or three for government salaries. And so long as we’re setting admirable goals, why not aspire to No. 1?

Why should California or some state in New England always capture that honor?

Sure, a few spoilsports might note that apparently good pay isn’t all that state workers enjoy. In addition, they can potentially retire at an age when most private-sector employees face 10 to 15 years more in the workaday slog. But such graceless observations only demonstrate the critics’ pettiness. Would they really begrudge a second career to those state workers who want one and who can retire in time to start on a second track?

Speaking of fairness, let’s not forget that state workers’ medical benefits equal only 85 percent of those typically paid in the private sector. No doubt this gross injustice is another spur to Ritter’s interest in bringing collective bargaining to the Centennial State. How else to ensure public/private equity but through unions?

OK, OK, maybe there is another way, now that you mention it. Not so many years ago, after all, state workers’ medical benefits were only 37 percent of the prevailing private market. I got that figure from Jeff Wells — who should know, since he was director of the Department of Personnel and Administration under former Gov. Bill Owens. In other words, the state boosted its contribution for medical benefits even without the prodding of collective bargaining. Imagine!

Now, it’s only fair to point out that Ritter’s spokesman denies that compensation has anything to do with talks about collective bargaining. His exact words: “employee partnerships are not about money.”

If he’s correct, then Colorado will soon become the first place in America — heck, the world — in which union leverage is not used mainly to further the economic interests of its members. At which point we’ll dispense with all this talk about the Colorado Promise and begin referring to our Colorado Paradise.

Trickle-down theory?

By the way, if the governor believes collective bargaining might be just the ticket for state government, why wouldn’t it be desirable for all local governments, too? Surely that’s the logical next step for the legislature to take if it ends up approving some form of collective bargaining for state government.

I asked Sam Mamet, director of the Colorado Municipal League, if there was anything to this sequencing idea.

“To me, if collective bargaining is going to apply to state government today, it stands to reason that it is going to apply to local government tomorrow,” Mamet concurred. “Therefore these discussions (between the unions and the Ritter administration) are of some concern to local officials.”

You bet they are. And should be.

Vincent Carroll is editor of the editorial pages. Reach him at carollv@RockyMountainNews.com.

READER COMMENTS

Vince, why did you ignore the fact that Colorado is now one of the most expensive states in which to reside?

I used to think that, like most libertarians, Vince Carroll was stuck in the fantasy world of a 13 year old boy.

I was mistaken. Vince Carroll is simply a petty, jealous and bitter man.

It is unfortunate that Denver, Colorado's most liberal city, has an editorial page edited by this man.

If you want to give us a conservative view can't you at least find an intellectual conservative to write it?

Vince Carroll knows how journalism is supposed to work. Who else is going to identify political payoff if not a good journalist? Politicians? They always have the best interest of the taxpayer until it comes time to buy votes with the public treasury. Then it is obfuscation and political double talk.

Liberals always want to work, and I use that term loosly, for government. They like the security, benefits and lack of demands for performance. That is why govt employment should be minimal, they do not have to justify their existance. Their job never becomes obsolete, there is always a need even when technology does it better.

Government should be for the benefit of taxpayers and increasing the size of government works to the opposite. Police, fire protection and school teachers (I am none of them) should be well paid and on par with the private sector as they are the main positions for government to perpetuate. And we should be willing to look for highly qualified people because they offer the great benefit to society. There are few other jobs in government that cannot be better performed by the private sector.

So Mr. Carroll does us a service shinning the light of day on the political payoffs and waste of governments.

Vince Carroll knows how journalism is supposed to work. Who else is going to identify political payoff if not a good journalist? Politicians? They always have the best interest of the taxpayer until it comes time to buy votes with the public treasury. Then it is obfuscation and political double talk.

Liberals always want to work, and I use that term loosly, for government. They like the security, benefits and lack of demands for performance. That is why govt employment should be minimal, they do not have to justify their existance. Their job never becomes obsolete, there is always a need even when technology does it better.

Government should be for the benefit of taxpayers and increasing the size of government works to the opposite. Police, fire protection and school teachers (I am none of them) should be well paid and on par with the private sector as they are the main positions for government to perpetuate. And we should be willing to look for highly qualified people because they offer the great benefit to society. There are few other jobs in government that cannot be better performed by the private sector.

So Mr. Carroll does us a service shinning the light of day on the political payoffs and waste of governments.

Carroll is spot on. Unions back Dems exclusively with large donations to further their political influence, and there is no other way to characterize Ritter's actions other than scratching the backs of those who contributed to his seat in office.

This is what liberals like to call being a slave to special interests (which is only objectionable if it is a conservative of course).

Make no mistake, if collective bargaining comes to our state government, the budget skyrockets along with our taxes.

Colorado Dave - Your insults are indicative of someone who either does not have facts to support his point of view, or does not have the mental capacity to participate in a true debate.

When the subject is school spending VC claims state rankings are irrelevant, but now they're the core of his argument.

The snide tone is unprofessional as well.

Right vince, you don't want no stinking lowlife public servants getting what you have, do you?

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

come on Vince...stop recycling old news....get to some stuff with some weight to it

You ever had to work on a highway project for 36k a year and use a porta-pottie when its 100 degrees outside you prick?

Gosh Vince, bad timing. CDOT worker killed on I-70 tonight.

Ritter had help from the Unions to get elected so give him a break. It is not about what is right for the State employeees or Colorado taxpayers... it is about pay back to the Unions.
Duh!

Response to Ollie: Yea, when I was in HIGH SCHOOL and I made a lot less than that. That's why I paid my way through college and got a degree. What a maroon you are.

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