Political Postcard in Broome County Sparks an Uproar

6/4/2012 (Updated 7:22:15 PM)

(Source: Fox 40 Staff)

Four Broome County Democratic Legislators are crying foul over a postcard produced by the Broome County Republican Committee sent to residents in their districts.
 
The flyer points out the four Democrats voted against a 5% pay cut for appointees approved by County Executive Debbie Preston and Republicans in the Legislature.

The Democrats say the postcard ignores the reason they voted no, because two of the 64 workers affected were serving in the National Guard overseas, and it wouldn't be right to cut their pay while they were serving out of the country.

Republicans say the Democrats are playing politics with the issue. 

"The main reason why we voted against this is that we wanted to protect service members' pay," said Democrat County Legislature Jason Garner of the 3rd District.  "And then they use this issue and send out all these mailings on Memorial Day weekend. I mean, you want to know what my reaction to that is? That just sickens me."

"Just because these two are serving in our military and serving our country, we're going to leave their pay the same," said Broome County Republican Committee Chairman Dave Hamlin.  "And because you don't serve in the military, flip the coin a little bit, these 62 people are taking cuts because they're here. It's really not fair."

Hamlin said the Democrats are hiding behind the military on an issue that saved taxpayers over $300,000.

The Democrats have submitted legislation that would restore salary cuts to active duty members of the National Guard and Reserve, and prevent such cuts in the future.

The next legislative session is June 21st.




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