Ravitch: One-Day Furloughs May Not Be Enough, How About Closing the DMV?

Lt. Governor Richard Ravitch suggested that Governor David Paterson could do more to persuade the legislature to hurry up and pass a budget.

Speaking to reporters at the State Capitol this afternoon, Ravitch conceded he didn’t have the answer to this latest budget battle, but did provide examples of how other states have taken even more drastic measures to save revenue other than one-day furloughs, while mounting pressure on lawmakers at the same time. One idea that got his attention is shutting down other government agencies such as the DMV.

“The former governor of Virginia told me he couldn’t get the legislature to enact the measures necessary to pass a responsible state budget so he closed the Department of Motor Vehicles five days a week and the public was so angry that they finally got enough pressure on the legislature to act.”

“…Only one day out of the week might not be enough to get the public angry about getting their licenses or their license plates.”

The LG also suggested if those furloughs passed by the legislature yesterday gets rejected in court, layoffs may be the next course of action.

“I think the governor is trying very hard to bring pressure on the unions to contribute to the fiscal mess that we’re in. It’s not possible to solve a $9.5 billion problem without give-ups and concessions by unions.”

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This entry was posted by Mike Whittemore on May 11, 2010 at 2:16 pm, and is filed under David Paterson, Richard Ravitch, Uncategorized. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

PO’d

Why, O why is hte Governor so fixated on getting $250,000,000 from the State Work Force???

Why don’t they focus on reoccuring revenue raisers and address how they are going to attack the bulk of that “$9.5 Billion problem?”
PO’d

Why, O why is hte Governor so fixated on getting $250,000,000 from the State Work Force???

Why don’t they focus on reoccuring revenue raisers and address how they are going to attack the bulk of that “$9.5 Billion problem?”
http://www.fullervision.net/newslog.html J. Myrle Fuller

Sure, that’ll work. I’ll just drive a car without a license. Then when they arrest me, I’ll accuse them of entrapment. How can I get a license if there’s no DMV?
http://www.fullervision.net/newslog.html J. Myrle Fuller

Sure, that’ll work. I’ll just drive a car without a license. Then when they arrest me, I’ll accuse them of entrapment. How can I get a license if there’s no DMV?
Carpet Bagger

Because the state workforce is a reoccurring revenue spender maybe?
I worked for the State. Most of the employees didn’t work very hard and most wouldn’t make it in the private sector.
They got the job based on a test, not on the normal qualities one must possess to perform a function and get along with co workers and the public.
I wonder what revenue raiser is out there on which the Governor should focus?
I notice when Dick Ravitch tells the truth , the usual suspects take umbrage. I <3 Dick Ravitch for that.
Carpet Bagger

Because the state workforce is a reoccurring revenue spender maybe?
I worked for the State. Most of the employees didn’t work very hard and most wouldn’t make it in the private sector.
They got the job based on a test, not on the normal qualities one must possess to perform a function and get along with co workers and the public.
I wonder what revenue raiser is out there on which the Governor should focus?
I notice when Dick Ravitch tells the truth , the usual suspects take umbrage. I <3 Dick Ravitch for that.
nick from niskayuna

Who needs another Dick in Albany?
nick from niskayuna

Who needs another Dick in Albany?
Carpet Bagger

You’ve got a point, Nick.
Carpet Bagger

You’ve got a point, Nick.
maverick100

J. Myrle Fuller said:

“Sure, that’ll work. I’ll just drive a car without a license. Then when they arrest me, I’ll accuse them of entrapment. How can I get a license if there’s no DMV?”

This from a kid who repeatedly on the CapCon blog says he can live without state government. I tell you what kid – go back to your own half-arsed blog.
maverick100

J. Myrle Fuller said:

“Sure, that’ll work. I’ll just drive a car without a license. Then when they arrest me, I’ll accuse them of entrapment. How can I get a license if there’s no DMV?”

This from a kid who repeatedly on the CapCon blog says he can live without state government. I tell you what kid – go back to your own half-arsed blog.
Bob Sarbane

Here’s a twofer: close the DEC and the social services agencies and a few other departments of state government that absolutely no one would miss, and the state budget gap closes — might even turn a surplus which could be turned over to the businesses that are still left but are thinking of leaving.
Bob Sarbane

Here’s a twofer: close the DEC and the social services agencies and a few other departments of state government that absolutely no one would miss, and the state budget gap closes — might even turn a surplus which could be turned over to the businesses that are still left but are thinking of leaving.

Ravitch: One-Day Furloughs May Not Be Enough, How About Closing the DMV?

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