State Government Shouldn't be a Jobs Program for Ghosts

AFP-Texas Joins the Ghost Hunt


You may have read about it – people scattered around the country who are on the Texas payroll, making an hourly wage, doing who knows what, and getting employee benefits.

AFP-Texas has sent public information requests to all House Democrats, on the heels of another group asking Republicans, to identify ghost employees. Folks, these are “employees” on the state payroll but who work only a few hours (if any) and get health care benefits among other bennies.

That’s just wrong, says Speaker Tom Craddick. We agree. And we want to shed some light of public scrutiny on the practice.

It’s taxpayer dollars – and lots of Texas taxpayers are struggling to pay their own health insurance. State government shouldn’t be a jobs program for ghosts.

We tilt our hat to the ghost group who appears to be investigating only Republicans. But, hey, if it’s wrong, it’s wrong. We want to expose ALL legislators who have ghost employees. Our inquiry may heighten the fear among some legislators, but if you can’t stand the ghost hunt, get out of the capitol.

-- Peggy V.