WE'LL HONOR THAT

LABOR CONTRACT.

(IF WE FEEL LIKE IT)

Leggett and Council Governing in an

Alternate Universe Without Rules,

As They Tear Up Binding Agreements with

Public Safety Personnel

Sunday's Washington Post had one of those statements from County Executive Ike Leggett's office that makes you wonder if there are any rules or standards left in our government.

A Leggett representative spoke in reaction to an arbitrator's ruling that the executive could - unbelievably - simply leave contractual COLAs for firefighters out of the budget. The arbitrator went on to say that Leggett's office gives him the right to shrug his shoulders about any financial obligation in the name of balanced budgets. The Leggett spokesperson said something to the effect that "we usually honor our labor agreements, but not in this case."

When can a binding agreement be broken by one party without consequence?

This is the same issue in the police disability retirement "reform." The executive and council agreed to the current system; they could have raised objections at that time. Now that money is tight, and they still need to fund the special interests that got them elected, they plan to get the cash by taking it from disabled police officers.

The good news is that none of the many attempts by our elected officials to raid the compensation packages of public safety personnel are a done deal yet. The county council still must agree to fund the provisions of any budget submitted by Leggett - and that includes all compensation and retirement issues. And don't forget about the Ambulance Fee...

So now is the time to turn up the heat on our greedy elected officials. Citizens need to make their voices - and their support of our police, and career and volunteer firefighters - heard.