Monday, July 2, 2007

Garcia Leading from the Rear on Pay Issue

When it comes to personally pitching it to help Michigan solve its $1.8 billion budget problem, Livingston County's state senator is waging a courageous battle from the sidelines.

Republican Valde Garcia told the Livingston Press & Argus, in a story for Monday's editions that he doesn't have any plans to give back 5 percent of his legislative salary before asking state employees to forego their pay raises for the next fiscal year.

"Anytime you take a part of salaries away from legislators, it is a minute amount," Garcia told the Livingston Press & Argus, completely missing the point that it's not the amount of the sacrifice but the symbol of sharing in the sacrifice that's important.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm turns back 5 percent of her salary. She told reporters Friday, according to the Press & Argus, that everyone needs to sacrifice in these tough times and that leaders should lead the way. Even Rep. Chris Ward, R-Brighton, says a legislative pay cut should be part of the state's budget solution.

Garcia's attitude, however, is that the sacrifices should come from the people at the bottom.

Wonder if that's the way he leads his troops as a colonel in the Army National Guard, staying safely in the Officers Club and letting the grunts bear the burdens and take the risks?

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