Canyon County Commishes are once again trying to convince citizens of the need for a Public Information Officer despite every indication the public is saying NO. Add to this the cavalier attitude of spending over $80,000/year to fund this position flies in the face of taxpayers. IPT Opinion Piece
We live in an age where everyone wants instant access or response to the most trivial of questions. THE GUARDIAN has watched the endorsements for the need of this position dribble out from various elected officials in the attempt to sway public opinion in this matter. The local paper did a poll and respondents to the poll said NO to the PIO idea. Today we have a guest opinion from the Canyon County Commishes telling us how useful this person would be to their efforts at transparency and how hard it is to respond to the media effectively without someone in this position.
THE GUARDIAN would like to suggest the Commishes video tape every meeting and they make it available via YOUTUBE or some other online service. They could also have a media press conference block of time set aside each day to make one of the three as well as any other elected official available to the media with that session also available on video access.
The Jumbo Shrimp oxymoron of the day has to be: "County PIO shouldn't add expense". The cash meter for taxpayers starts the minute this position is filled. It will add expense to the county. Just because they have the position budgeted does not mean they should spend our money.
Without a serious analysis of the cost v. benefit we think Auditor Clerk Chris Yamamoto is 100% correct in his vocal non support of having a County PIO.
Isn't it amazing what politicions can justifiy when they are spending our money.
ReplyDeleteI have an idea . Since the $80,000 a year salary for the PIO isn't going to cost any thing the commisioners shouldn't mind if we deduct the cost from their salarys. After all it isn't real money.
ReplyDeleteThe question I would pose to the elected officials is would they be willing to reduce their pay in order to cover the "costs" for this position. I think I already know the answer on this question.
ReplyDeleteIf a mouth piece must be hired and paid 80K to speak for the Three Stooges, so the Stooges don't make complete fools of themselves, then vote them out of office. If the Stooges need the cover of a PIO, these people should not be in public office. If they can not speak intelligently about the issues, then they need to go!
ReplyDeleteGood grief there are three commissioners, surely they can divvy up the media issues with each taking a day of the week to speak for the county. This means the would each have one day one week and two days the next to communicate with the media.
ReplyDeleteIf they can't speak or write well enough I suggest they take a course at TVCC or CWI. Communicating with the public is one of the inherent duties of elected people.
All of the above sound like excellent suggestions. If the commies follow through with this expenditure against the will of the people, this should be remembered at election time.
ReplyDeleteI don't care that they want a mouthpiece. I do care that they want to pay their mouthpiece as much or in some cases even more than some elected officials. Are you kidding me? I could see maybe $35,000 a year to be a parrot. But $80,000 a year is way too much. Anything more than $15.00 an hour is too much.
ReplyDeleteIt's not too early for candidates to be stepping up and announcing. The May primarys are not that far away and in Canyon County that is the election
ReplyDeleteI don't want a "spin doctor" delivering information to me in a manner that is anything less than the straight facts. I know not all people in elected office are excellent speakers under stressful situations, however, I think most people can recognize and deal with sincerity and truth.
ReplyDeleteHiding behind a PIO is just plain cowardice. Canyon County must reduce spending, or increase taxes, and the Three Stooges want to spend 80K ($80,000.00), so they can look like they know what they are doing? The 80K/year to cover your incompetence guy shouldn't be a part of county government! You have to remember that a least 2 (two), of the Stooges filed for bankruptcy because they couldn't keep their personal financial affairs in order. Both the male Stooges had hit bottom, looked around and said to themselves, why not run for Commissioner? What have I got to loose? The only looser here is the taxpayer! The Stooges need to be voted out of office.
ReplyDeleteSo okay, who's spoiled brat cannot conceivably fill out a job application but needs to have a job as provided to them by the commissioners and cannot possibly get along on less than $80,000 a year with a so-called competitive benefits package does this stink of political motivated hack.
ReplyDeleteWhat??? Are these commissioners getting so caught up in this corporate politico obstructionist socialist stuff that they think they need a spokesman to speak to the middle class, while they discuss the real issues with their special interest groups, and lobbyists behind drawn shades, and closed doors? Well wag the dog. Give us a break.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is INSANE to ask for this in Canyon County. It is not needed and they can speak for themselves. Why make the tax payers fund this un-needed position.
ReplyDeleteThere are just to many elected officials nowdays that are not living up to the oaths that they swear to represent the people, instead they are signing loyalty oaths and pledges to lobbyists, and corporations, and it is tearing communities, and our country apart. We the people need to make sure that we stop this kind of behavior on the local, state, and federal levels of who we elect to represent us, NOW.
ReplyDelete