Arkansas Blog

>>Ernie Passailaigue says higher salaries are warranted given the long hours the staff will work and because it takes a little extra to lure highly qualified employees to the state (i.e. two VP positions that will earn $225,000). <<

OK. Once the heavy lifting is over and all is running smoothly as Ernie has forecast then they won't mind a little salary cut back to say what other heads of agencies or departments make.

What say you Ray Thornton? Robbie, you have an opinion on this? Hands clean?

Additionally, didn't we hear this mantra of "it's hard work" from George W. Bush on the White House fame while he and the Dark One were trotting about the world in supreme luxury and taking
58 days per year at the (leased) Crawford White House.

Oh, I see. It's an *hourly* wage. So, assuming these guys are working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, they're making about 25 bucks an hour. For most Arkansans, that'd be a raise. Just saying.

There's no two ways about this. The lottery is a f*&king rip-off--without even selling the first scratch-n-bawl.

Oh yeah, career bureaucrats and politicians are going to be working 60 hour weeks. I can see it now. The only thing that runs like a business is bidness. There is nothing else like profit and loss, certainly not gambling proceeds.

Arkansas Crazy, there is nothing else like it.

Pig in a poke boys. You ain't seen the first of this yet.

And after the report is written, it will do what???? You are reviewing an established fact. The voters set up the criteria for this and the legislators can just wish they had the job.

"Lottery officials also maintain the games will be run more like a business than a typical state agency."

So, basically its going to be run without any oversight, regulation or accountability before it gets run into the ground, and then we'll have to pick up the tab?

Well in that case, carry on then...I feel much better now.

He has hired 4 people so far, one worked with him in So. Carolina and one worked for Lottery Commission Chair Thornton. Can we say same ol boy club as usual?
Came across this comment on Passailaigue-
http://www.trevordrown.com/videos/

Well.........WE HAVE A WINNER.

If any three of us pooled a few bucks, bought a lottery ticket and over came the odds &
won a Million Bucks, it's still less than Ernie and his VPs will get. After discounting your
future cash flow lottery ticket it won't be worth the

SEVEN HUNDRED SEVENTY FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS ($774,000) that threesome will take out each year, after year.

I voted for Halter's scheme but regret it now. After turning it over to our legies who can screw up a steel ball, not much is left uncorrupted.

.

>>Well.........WE HAVE A WINNER.
If any three of us pooled a few bucks, bought a lottery ticket and over came the odds &
won a Million Bucks, it's still less than Ernie and his VPs will get. After discounting your
future cash flow lottery ticket it won't be worth the
SEVEN HUNDRED SEVENTY FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS ($774,000) that threesome will take out each year, after year.
I voted for Halter's scheme but regret it now. After turning it over to our legies who can screw up a steel ball, not much is left uncorrupted. <<
Posted by: eLwood

I agree eLwood. This is not what Halter intended and not what voters approved. This is the greatest validation of voter cynicism about the Arkansas legislature since..., uh, since..., oh God do I feel stupid for having voted for this lottery.

And yes, our legislate could not organize a two car funeral. But I bet they could find a covey of slick South Carolinians to do the job for a hefty fee.

>>Well.........WE HAVE A WINNER.
If any three of us pooled a few bucks, bought a lottery ticket and over came the odds &
won a Million Bucks, it's still less than Ernie and his VPs will get. After discounting your
future cash flow lottery ticket it won't be worth the
SEVEN HUNDRED SEVENTY FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS ($774,000) that threesome will take out each year, after year.
I voted for Halter's scheme but regret it now. After turning it over to our legies who can screw up a steel ball, not much is left uncorrupted. <<
Posted by: eLwood

I agree eLwood. This is not what Halter intended and not what voters approved. This is the greatest validation of voter cynicism about the Arkansas legislature since..., uh, since..., oh God do I feel stupid for having voted for this lottery.

And yes, our legislators could not organize a two car funeral. But I bet they could find a covey of slick South Carolinians to do the job for a hefty fee.

Big "L" and Polecat, Are you positive it isn't what Halter intended?

A lot of this was predictable and predicted. But the lottery is our law now and we are just experiencing the beginning of all the headaches and problems this mistake will bring (ITYS). There will be a great deal more in the lottery staff, the lottery commission and our legislature, exposed and unexposed.

"Greed is good!" Right?????? Unfortunately, there are no limitations on the implementation of Gecko's line. Just as there are no litmus tests for the truth or intelligence of posts on this blog . . . . And yes, trolls, that includes me. It is always dependent on the knowledge, intelligence and discernment of the ARTimes Readers . . . and yes, trolls, that includes you.

Thanks Dismang. I hope he starts looking around the Capitol first in his comparisons. What does Halter's staff make? What about the substantial pay raise Beebe gave his legal attorney? What do Charlie's people make? And please include House salaries too while you're at it. What does the staff make over there? A quick look at their appropriation shows that the parliamentarian, coordinator of legislative services and director of constituency make over 100K. Why are 3 staff people of a part time legislature making over 100K?

So far, EP's hired 4 people -- three of them female and one of them I presume is black from the SC pics. So far his staff is 75% minority. That doesn't look like a good old boys club to me.

This salary controversy may bring negative press to the lottery industry, which can be controlled through strong internet presence management. More at http://domusinc.blogspot.com/

This salary controversy may bring negative press to the lottery industry, which can be controlled through strong internet presence management. More at http://domusinc.blogspot.com/