text: Out-of-control public expenditures on salary and benefits have already put the squeeze on capital infrastructure projects like state roads and highways, schools and airport and harbor maintenance.  One not-so-secret joke is that state government is in the "business" of providing patronage "make work" positions, and only provide government services as an extra. You wonder at those folks who you see walking in and around the Downtown Civic Center area, wondering what they actually do throughout the day. Hmmm