A big difference

I'd never thought about it before, the differences between a "layoff" and a "reduction in force" (RIF) but have now been educated. No, I didn't lose my job, but, a couple of weeks ago, many people who work for my employer did. (We were warned; the CEO had used the L word in the last quarterly employee meetings. Directors and managers were given instructions to find ways to cut costs and save money, including determining what services could go. And voila, two weeks later 70 people were RIFd.)

So the differences, at least in Oklahoma, are these... When you're laid off, there may be some expectation that, once things pick up again, you could get your job back, and as a result, you cannot collect unemployment. When you're RIFd, you are fully terminated and can accrue unemployment benefits.

Who knew?

--oOo--

I received an email this week that listed some clever church signs. Who knows if they really are church signs, or just stuff emailers made up, or, most likely, a combination of the two. In any case, here they are:

• Try our Sundays-- they're better than Baskin Robbins'

• Life is hard / Afterlife is harder

• Come in and have your faith lifted

• You are not too bad to come in / You are not too good to stay out

• Aspire to inspire before you expire

• Under the same management for over 2000 years

• Can't sleep? Try counting your blessings

--oOo--

Have you checked out the fancy schmancy new Childress Index website yet?

Birds of a feather

This might be a good time to remind you that the opinions in this space are mine and mine alone, because another of President Barack Obama's cabinet nominees has had tax issues revealed. Yes, a fifth nominee of his has had problems filing and/or paying taxes. The fifth one. Five!

Are you kidding me?

Unfortunately, no one is kidding. The president's most recent prized selection is former Dallas mayor Ron Kirk, the pick to be U.S. trade representative. He owes roughly $10,000 in back taxes resulting from speaking fees and entertainment expenses.

And the president's other four nomination jewels? Former Senate majority leader Tom Daschle was nominated to serve as Health and Human Services secretary but withdrew his name because he had neglected to pay over $128,000 in income taxes. And just hours after Daschle bowed out, Nancy Killefer, who was to be the country's first chief performance officer, withdrew her name after it became known that she had neglected to pay District of Columbia payroll taxes for her household staff. And the husband of our new Labor secretary, Hilda Solis, owes thousands of dollars in state and county taxes on his business. (Yes, I realize that Secetary Solis' taxes are not in question, but a certain little concept known as "guilt by association" comes to mind. Plus there's that whole Labor secretary/business taxes link.)

My personal favorite, however, is Timothy Geithner. He failed to pay Medicare and Social Security taxes in the past, and he is now the Treasury secretary. That's right, he is now over the Internal Revenue Service. Huh?

You know, when Daschle and Killefer dropped out, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said something to the effect of, Killefer and Daschle realize that they cannot be in positions of authority and have different standards than those they serve. Ok, but what the heck happened with Solis and, especially, do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do Geithner? Where are their realizations?

--oOo--

Now, by no means do I expect perfection, but what is with nominating people who, at best, seem to be irresponsible and neglectful (and who, at worst, may be engaging in tax evasion), to such high positions? Where is the common sense? Are there no standards?

I used to work for the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, and believe me, you don't not pay your state and local taxes, and you sure don't not pay Uncle Sam. And if you ever, e-v-e-r have the slightest notion that you might aspire the heights these people have (and almost have) attained? Well, you lead by example. You file, and pay, your taxes!

All of them!