http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/gov_furlough_raises_hell_by_boosting_w6v3K6wFAWNq9rXgAIwHbN
And the stupidity carries on.
Gov. Paterson has granted stunning pay raises of up to 29 percent to several key aides — even as he slaps furloughs on 100,000 state workers, and his lieutenant governor threatens layoffs. The shocking move by the lame-duck governor involves five members of his embattled press office, whose two top-ranking members abruptly resigned earlier this year amid what they privately called misleading statements made by the governor.
The double-digit pay hikes, granted within the past 10 days, were first disclosed by Albany TV station CBS6 late yesterday -- just hours after public employee unions went to federal court seeking a temporary restraining order against Paterson's unprecedented move to force half the state workforce off the payroll one day a week for the next nine weeks.
Gov. Paterson
"It's a slap in the face to state employees who have had their raise delayed and are threatened with the loss of another 20 percent pay per week through the furloughs," said Public Employees Federation spokeswoman Darcy Wells.
"Whatever happened to shared sacrifice?"
The furlough plan, designed to save $250 million, is part of the governor's overall proposal to close a looming $9.2 billion deficit for the current fiscal year -- a problem making the new raises even more difficult to fathom.
Among those receiving hikes are press officer Jessica Bassett, whose pay jumped to $75,000 annually from $65,000 (15 percent), Margaret-Kelly McKeon, executive assistant, up to $75,000 from $65,000 (15 percent), Elizabeth Banner, confidential secretary, to $60,000 from $55,000 (9 percent), press officer Anna Adams-Sarthou, to $45,000 from $35,000 (29 percent) and press assistant Melanie Hartgraves, to $45,000 from $38,000 (18 percent).
Paterson's $150,000-a-year communications director, Morgan Hook called the raises "promotions
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