California Elected Officials' Pay Will Be Cut 18%

Los Angeles Times ^ | May 21, 2009 | Patrick McGreevy and Ann M. Simmons

[nickcarraway]

Citing pay decreases and layoffs being imposed on rank-and-file state workers, the California Citizens Compensation Commission approved the reduction, which also applies to the state attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, controller, insurance commissioner, treasurer, lieutenant governor, secretary of state and members of the Board of Equalization.

"I think they should share in the sacrifices that everyone else has had to encounter," Commissioner Kathy Sands, a former Auburn mayor, said after the panel's 5-1 vote at a meeting in Burbank.

The commission had wanted to decrease current officials' pay, but the panel's attorney said California law does not allow that.

Commission Chairman Charles Murray said the panel's move would allow savings close to those that would have been achieved if a 10% cut had gone into effect this year and continued through next year.

"We see nothing on the horizon that is going to bring us out of" the state budget crisis, Murray said. "How do you find $21 billion in one year?"

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who appoints the commissioners and supported their action today, does not take a salary. One legislator, Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria), said he would voluntarily accept the pay cut effective June 1.

But state Sen. Denise Moreno Ducheny (D-San Diego), who will be termed out of the Legislature next year, called the decrease "excessive" and "punitive" and said it may discourage some people from running for state office.

A month ago, members proposed a 10% cut. Today, they cited Tuesday's election results, which will push the state budget deficit as high as $21.3 billion, in making the larger reduction.

[al baby]

So Arnold will be only making 82 cents a year

[taildragger]

Ya but did they take their pensions?

[stboz]

Big whoopie-do....it doesn’t hit until the end of NEXT YEAR!

[edcoil]

“the California Citizens Compensation Commission approved the reduction,”

Wasn't is just last month in their arrogance they gave them a raise?

Maybe yesterday will mean something. I doubt it but we will see.

[davetex]

Should be 81%!!

[St. Louis Conservative]

Who cares.

They need to fire every last unionized public employee and outlaw all public employ unions.

[Slimey]

“The commission had wanted to decrease current officials’ pay, but the panel’s attorney said California law does not allow that....

Don’t tell me......let me guess. The panel scumbag is being paid by ....the commission.....? Ahhh I see.

[truth_seeker]

“Big whoopie-do....it doesn’t hit until the end of NEXT YEAR!”

Phuquers will be trying to float a bond, against projected future cuts.

[Secret Agent Man]

The land of fruits and nuts is built upon a house of fiat money and loans. Thanks to massive overspending by public officials.

Hang em. Get new ones. Show them the hanging bodies. That’s what awaits you if you screw up.

And they ought to be hanged. To be 21 billion in the hole after all the taxes people pay out there to begin with is monumental ineptitude on a state-wide level.

[DoughtyOne]

I get kind of a kick out of them taking these cuts, as if it were going to mean that much to them. They come to Excremento as middle class citizens, and leave stinking wealthy. It happens over and over. How does it?

The middle-class are taking it in the shorts right now. There are downward pressures on wages across the board. They are just trying to get buy and will probably never be wealthy.

So these cuts are chump change. They should be fired! If nothing else, they should have their salaries cut by 50% or more. They have failed to do their job. Do any of us still get paid for not doing our work?

[chris_bdba]

IMHO this is silly. They need to decide which depts are the most important and cut them by 10% of workers, the other dept needs to cut their employees by 50% and other depts just need to be consolidated into others. If they are short by however many billions that means the checks bounce, time to STOP spending!

[GOP Poet]

bookmark

[Larry381]

But state Sen. Denise Moreno Ducheny (D-San Diego), who will be termed out of the Legislature next year, called the decrease "excessive" and "punitive" and said it may discourage some people from running for state office.

We should be so lucky-getting elected to state office is like winning the lottery for these low-lifes-especially if they're Rats who will never be voted out of office.

[calcowgirl]

They aren’t eligible for pensions. Social Security only.

[4rcane]

theres some good, after the 18% cut, they can no longer increase it, because of the recent vote prevents any salary increases while state is still in deficit

[truthguy]

To save really big money, they should get rid of the California Air Resources Board. We could save billions. They are a complete duplication of EPA. We don't need them at all. It's my understanding that not a single person at CARB has be RIFFed. Does anyone know about this?

[calcowgirl]

IMHO this is silly.

I agree (but we are apparently in a minority).

It's probably also unconstitutional as "fiscal problems" are not one of the criteria upon which they are chartered to consider in establishing salaries. But any legislator that objects will be raked over the coals by King Arnold.

[Graybeard58]

"How do you find $21 billion in one year?"

Well, if you were the fed gov, just print it.

[kinghorse]

I don’t have a pension but I understand my tax dollars will be going toward giving someone at GM the chance to work from 18 to 48 and retire on a full pension for the rest of their natural lives. I am very happy to be able to give so that others may have that pension I don’t have.

I understand Carli Bruni can’t walk the streets of Paris without a disguise. To keep from getting pelted with eggs. All modern western political movements seem to start in France, spill over to the rest of western europe, pop up in California and spread to the rest of the USA. People should be upset at the two tiered system in place. One set of benefits for members of the party and another for the rest.

[4rcane]

btw, they still get to keep $35k/year living expenses in addition to their walary

[MtnClimber]

The country is swirling around the drain and the swirls are getting smaller. The centrists don’t have the sense to jump out of the toilet and fight it.

[Mikey_1962]

But the kickbacks will still be 100%!

[pieceofthepuzzle]

How about they just work for nothing until they balance their budget.

[Jim Noble]

In New Hampshire, we do not pay members of the House of Representatives and we do not provide them with an office or staff (we do pay Senators).

California, I suggest you try it.

[Jim Noble]

But state Sen. Denise Moreno Ducheny (D-San Diego), who will be termed out of the Legislature next year, called the decrease "excessive" and "punitive" and said it may discourage some people from running for state office.

A highly desirable outcome, IMO.

[Liz]

"Ach der lieber......Kaleefirneeah bankvupt? Ai gotda refife mi caveer. Cahn a
guy chainch hiss mind? Ai gonnah haf sexchual reassignment surgeree undt stah in
remakes ov dem Shurley Tempul pichures.

"Ondah go-o-dt schip, Lahllipop, eets a sveet trip to dah kahndy schop,
vere bonbons play, ondah sunnee beetch at Peppahmint Bahy."

"Lumonade stahnds everyvere, cvakerjack bahnds vill dah air.
Undt dere you ahr, hoppy lahndin on a schocolate bah."

See dah sugar bowl do dah tootsie roll wit dah big bad devils foodt cake.
"Iv you eat too musch ooh-ooh, you avake wit a tummy ache.

" Ondah go-o-dt schip Lahllipop, eets a night tvip intuh bed
you hop, undt dream avay ondah goodt schip Lahllipop."

[supermop]

Should have included the retired/defeated politicians that are appointed to the Waste Management Board too.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks nickcarraway.

Citing pay decreases and layoffs being imposed on rank-and-file state workers, the California Citizens Compensation Commission approved the reduction, which also applies to the state attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, controller, insurance commissioner, treasurer, lieutenant governor, secretary of state and members of the Board of Equalization... The commission had wanted to decrease current officials' pay, but the panel's attorney said California law does not allow that... Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who appoints the commissioners and supported their action today, does not take a salary. One legislator, Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria), said he would voluntarily accept the pay cut effective June 1. But state Sen. Denise Moreno Ducheny (D-San Diego), who will be termed out of the Legislature next year, called the decrease "excessive" and "punitive" and said it may discourage some people from running for state office.

What about discouraging people from running for governor? What an a-hole.

[mrsmel]

I think she doesn’t realise that no one should be running for office for the good pay and benefits. Though that’s what they do now. It’s not “public service” anymore, that idea went away long ago.

[mrsmel]

LOL

[JoanneSD]

People will not be discouraged from running for office, it is like hitting lifes lottery, and she knows it....she will be out of office next election, and be free to march for the illegals...every day...

[MHT]

They could also cut out medical care to illegals, education for illegals, and eliminate all school programs, government printed materials, etc. in every language but English. Might save a bit of money.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

But state Sen. Denise Moreno Ducheny (D-San Diego), who will be termed out of the Legislature next year, called the decrease "excessive" and "punitive" and said it may discourage some people from running for state office.

That's right, democrats run for office for da muny!?

[calcowgirl]

Only mulit-millionaires/billionaires need apply.

I think that’s how the CA GOP is choosing their preferred candidates lately, too.

[dragnet2]

California Elected Officials' Pay Will Be Cut 18%

' A fantastic start....Lets go for 30 percent!!

[dragnet2]

Pensions will follow....

[calcowgirl]

"We see nothing on the horizon that is going to bring us out of" the state budget crisis, Murray said. "How do you find $21 billion in one year?"

Completely dishonest question.

The "$21 billion problem" was over a 2 year period. Their tax increases already in place (sales, income, and VLF) solved $16 billion of that. They only need $5 billion more next year (to replace the Lottery borrowing they had hoped for.)

[dragnet2]

Who cares.

Interesting comment.

I care, and since you are from out of state, I could see why you could care less.

Interesting that you and some others continue to bash California, when in fact the biggest Tax protest in modern history, just occurred in *California* of all places. That seems to rub some the wrong way. lol...

In addition, some of the comments from out of staters, such as yours, seem to be suspect. You'd think, after what occurred yesterday, the support would be unrelenting and totally supportive. Obviously this is not the case.

Clearly some posters seem angry at the results of this overwhelming election. From a conservative site yet!

I find that extremely suspect and very odd.

[patton]

It would be of great interest to see a zero-based budget for CA - that is, one where you start at zero, tally up the required-by-law spending, and compare that against an honest assessment of anticipated revenues.

At this point, I suspect the answer is a negative number.

[dragnet2]

No comment on 39?

[patton]

Sure - congrats to CA on finding some sense. It was a good move.

However, with all of the mandated funding (ballot iniatives for this, that, and the other...), how much of CA’s spending can the legislature eliminate?

Not to justify their massive overspending, just curious what they can legally do.

[dragnet2]

how much of CA’s spending can the legislature eliminate?

The tax payers are out of money. Do the numbers....lol

[dragnet2]

Sure - congrats to CA

Hope that didn't hurt too much.

[LiveFree99]

C’mon, Arnie’s governor’s salary doesn’t even pay for his yearly body oil usage.

[patton]

Here is an example - I am sure CA is obligated legally to make payment on their various bonds. That is probably 20% of an honest budget, right there.

[patton]

Not at all - I sincerely meant it.

[dragnet2]

So what do you think of the fact that California’s just murdered Republican Schwarzenegger’s future political career?

[patton]

He had one? Who knew.

[editor-surveyor]

"How do you find $21 billion in one year?"

Easy: Cut the things that you increased to get the deficit in the first place.