Legislature ’08: Personnel board bill should die

The Clarion-Ledger Editorial, 4/8/8

No one should lament the demise of the bill that would allow department heads at 25 state agencies to fire employees without the approval of the Personal Board.

House Bill 870 – called the “job security” bill – has been the subject of intense spin by both sides in the debate.

Senate backers say it’s a way for the state to save taxpayers $11 million, fanning the flames by claiming it’s to eliminate fat in government and hold state workers to the same standards as private employees.

Opponents – quite rightly – point out that it would affect more than 25,000 state employees, interjecting politics and fear into personnel policies.