California Firefighters Want A Slice of a Sales Tax

Steve Greenhut explains why some people want higher taxes:

Firefighters in Orange County earn median salaries and benefits of $175,181 a year. They retire with 100 percent of their base pay, after 33-1/3 years of work. A firefighter representative corrects me when I say that they are paid forsleeping on duty. Actually, he says, they are paid whilesleeping. However you parse it, this is a pretty good deal.

This is when Greenhut's Rule of Government kicks in: "No matter how much money you give an agency or union, it is not enough." One reader illustrates this point with a joke: A public agency is negotiating with a union, and the agency agrees: Union members will get full pay for no work and only have to come in and pick up their paychecks every Wednesday. Shoots back an outraged union rep: EveryWednesday!?

Now the firefighters want a share of the Prop. 172 sales-tax money. Union chief Joe Kerr cries poormouth, complaining about ancient fire engines, decrepit helicopters, inadequate equipment and understaffedfire stations.

The union - in response to the goals set by the national union - wants to put a fourth person on every firetruck, even though about 90 percent of calls are for paramedic services. There are very few fires in Orange County because of strict building standards and insurance requirements.

Allowing government workers to vote makes non-government workers pay unbelievable wages to the lucky.I guess not everyone can work for the government.