Racine vs. Dept. of Health

Did the Vermont Department of Health cut jobs that were fully funded by the federal government?

Sen. Doug Racine, the chair of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee and a possible Democratic candidate for governor in 2010, believes they did.

Racine, a Democrat from Chittenden County, met with Health Commissioner Wendy Davis Tuesday to look at the cuts made to the state budget in August and December last year - cuts that were made when the full legislature was not in session.

The senator said information he received from the Joint Fiscal Office shows that the department cut at least six jobs last summer that were funded completely by the federal government. Vermont taxpayers weren't paying a dime for them, he said (except, of course, through our federal taxes).

Racine said the cuts were made because the department was told to cut a certain number of positions from its budget, but not a specific amount of money.

This morning in the Senate Economic Development Committee, Racine noted that these workers are probably now receiving unemployment benefits through the state.

"This is actually costing us more," he said.

-Dan Barlow

Comments

[Morgan W. Brown]

Interesting.

If true, it would also be interesting to learn exactly what positions and job descriptions as well as what their salaries were and how long they worked in those positions, plus anything more about the programs the funding sources or grants was for.

And, since the positions were cut, does this mean the state lost the funding or simply were able to use it for other purposes and, if the latter is the case, how was the funding used.

In addition, besides the lost of those particular positions, what was the lost in terms of what was once done by the persons serving in those roles and who if anyone is performing those roles as well as at what cost and is the state having to pick up the tab for such now or what?

This makes one also wonder if this was done elsewhere either within the AHS or other state government agencies or departments?

[1087]

"Did the Vermont Department of Health cut jobs that were fully funded by the federal government?"
Good question. Any chance a reporter might pursue this ? You know,commit some journalism.