Recently, many Republicans – and a few editorial boards – have fixed their attention during this nearly unprecedented economic and budget crisis upon our state employees, and have begun demanding a sacrifice on the part of state employees in order to reduce the size of government.

First, before we scapegoat our dedicated public employees during this ongoing crisis, let’s get past the tiresome stereotype of the paper-pushing bureaucrat and remember that public employees include teachers, nurses, and police officers. Public employees are the ones who teach the ABCs to our children, prepare young adults to enter the workforce, and ease displaced workers back into the job market. Public employees are the ones who ensure the safety of the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. Public employees are the ones who stand guard in our prisons and our communities, provide assistance to disabled individuals and seniors in need, and assist kids from low-income families and our honored veterans in finding health care.

Second, let’s keep in mind the magnitude of the problem. Even if we eliminated all state contributions to state workers’ health care in the current budget, we would still have a $1.65 billion shortfall to deal with. The Legislature isn’t going to be doing this, of course. But the example illustrates how pointing the figure at state employees doesn’t provide a realistic solution to the challenge we face.

Third, before we demand a sacrifice of any group, let’s see to what extent that group has already made considerable sacrifices. Last session, the Legislature eliminated $800 million in state employee compensation, and asked state workers who were due already-negotiated competitive salary adjustments to accept a pay freeze. We eliminated around $200 million in health insurance costs, and asked state workers to contribute much more in deductables, co-pays, and point-of-service charges. We instituted furloughs for many of the state’s highest paid workers, and asked state workers to shorten the number of hours they work, a step which has so far resulted in 16,000 hours in unpaid leave. We made over 3,000 state layoffs, and the Governor’s budget this year calls for an additional 1,500 more. (For more on the sacrifices made by state workers, I recommend you read this editorial.)

These are the same kinds of tough but realistic personnel decisions that are being made by newspapers and virtually every other private employer in our state. State government is surely not alone in this crisis, but nor is it unique.  Like workers in the private sector, state workers are making major financial sacrifices. But we should resist the temptation to demand that they bear a greater share of the problem. We need remember that many of these workers are paid significantly less than what they might be paid performing comparable work in the private sector. We also need to remember just how critical the services are that state workers provide for our communities.

They deserve our thanks, not our ire.