The simple solutions for the state and local governments that NOW don't want to live up to the contractual agreements that they agreed to is to pay the employees all the wages they would have earned if they would have agreed to wages only instead of benefit and pension payment increases however long ago it was.
I haven't seen any governors,mayors,council members,legislators,etc. etc. offering to reduce their salaries and/or pay more for their benefits including pension reductions etc. to help balance their state or local budgets.

Haven't seen the pompas in the House do it either have you? Oh, I stand to be corrected, he cut his last vacation short by 1/2 day. Savings to the American taxpayer in the neighborhood of 100,000.00 Great reformer huh...     NOT>>>!

What part of "We just don't have the money" don't you understand, booby?

rdgrnr the ignorant doesn't know that they have plenty of money for corporate welfare,subsidies,tax abatements etc,
that run out and then the corporate entities move elsewhere and do the same thing.
If they have the money for the already rich they have it too for those trying to get rich.

Just because you're too incompetent to make it in the world doesn't mean we're all going to go socialist just so you feel better, booby. There's winners and losers in life.
You just happen to be a loser.
Get over it.

They are going to have to stop spending and make radical changes to budgets to cut debt. that money will have to come from somewhere... it is amazing that people just dont get it. these are most likely the same people who have cc'ds maxed out, and are over their heads with bills and are simply content to walk away from all their responsibility to repay.

it has to end. at least this fella is actually doing something to try to make it better. once they are outa the red... then everyone will be clammering to take credit for his actions.