What does the Siccness think of this move by the Governator?
He cut state employee wages to $6.55/hr to punish the state politicians... make no sense...
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger made good on his threat today by signing an executive order to pay some 200,000 state workers the minimum federal wage of $6.55 an hour. The governor says the pay cut will stay in place until there's a new state budget on the books.
Joe Singh is a little hot under the collar and its not from working in the summer heat. He's steamed that Governor Schwarzenegger just whacked his pay by about 60%. "I think it's a bunch of crap that we get punished because these politicians can't get their budget right," said CalTrans Employee Joe Singh.
"It's really gonna hurt my budget at home," added Singh, a married father of three.
With a stroke of the pen, Schwarzenegger ordered the cut state workers' wages and laid off some 22,000 temporary, part-time employees. The governor says the moves are necessary to avoid a full-blown fiscal crisis in California.
"I have a responsibility to make sure we have enough money on hand to pay our bills. The executive order I'm signing today will free up money to pay the state's costs," the governor stated.
State lawmakers are over a month late in delivering a balanced state budget.
Thousands of service vendors aren't getting paid. Neither are colleges, universities and legislative employees.
"There's a cash crisis looming. This leaves me with no easy choices, only choices with consequences," said governor Schwarzenegger.
Democratic and Republican lawmakers remain far apart over how to close a 15.2 billion-dollar deficit. Democrats want nine-billion dollars in new taxes. Anti-tax Republicans want to cut spending.
"I believe the big five legislative leaders all know we can't close a $15 Billion dollar budget gap with spending cuts alone," said Assembly Speaker Karen Bass.
Schwarzenegger's order on the minimum wage is likely to be challenged by employee unions and the state controller.
But State Controller John Chiang issued a statement again today stating he will refuse to comply with the order, arguing he is not legally allowed to cut state employee pay while the state has money to cover the paychecks.
The governor says his order is legal, based on a 2003 California Supreme Court ruling. The governor's order exempts employees of public safety agencies, including peace officers, firefighters and emergency hospital personnel.
While the budget battle drags on, thousands of state workers like Joe Singh are left in limbo on the homefront.
"It's terrible. I didn't think they would do this, but I guess they did," said Singh.
Joe Singh is a little hot under the collar and its not from working in the summer heat. He's steamed that Governor Schwarzenegger just whacked his pay by about 60%. "I think it's a bunch of crap that we get punished because these politicians can't get their budget right," said CalTrans Employee Joe Singh.
"It's really gonna hurt my budget at home," added Singh, a married father of three.
With a stroke of the pen, Schwarzenegger ordered the cut state workers' wages and laid off some 22,000 temporary, part-time employees. The governor says the moves are necessary to avoid a full-blown fiscal crisis in California.
"I have a responsibility to make sure we have enough money on hand to pay our bills. The executive order I'm signing today will free up money to pay the state's costs," the governor stated.
State lawmakers are over a month late in delivering a balanced state budget.
Thousands of service vendors aren't getting paid. Neither are colleges, universities and legislative employees.
"There's a cash crisis looming. This leaves me with no easy choices, only choices with consequences," said governor Schwarzenegger.
Democratic and Republican lawmakers remain far apart over how to close a 15.2 billion-dollar deficit. Democrats want nine-billion dollars in new taxes. Anti-tax Republicans want to cut spending.
"I believe the big five legislative leaders all know we can't close a $15 Billion dollar budget gap with spending cuts alone," said Assembly Speaker Karen Bass.
Schwarzenegger's order on the minimum wage is likely to be challenged by employee unions and the state controller.
But State Controller John Chiang issued a statement again today stating he will refuse to comply with the order, arguing he is not legally allowed to cut state employee pay while the state has money to cover the paychecks.
The governor says his order is legal, based on a 2003 California Supreme Court ruling. The governor's order exempts employees of public safety agencies, including peace officers, firefighters and emergency hospital personnel.
While the budget battle drags on, thousands of state workers like Joe Singh are left in limbo on the homefront.
"It's terrible. I didn't think they would do this, but I guess they did," said Singh.