California's top elected officials could be hit with pay cut

AP via SFGate ^ | 4/22/8 | STEVE LAWRENCE, Associated Press Writer

[SmithL]

an Nuys, CA (AP) --

With California facing multibillion dollar deficits and deep budget cuts, the state's elected officials may be in for some belt-tightening of their own.

A state commission is considering cutting the pay of the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, legislators and other state elected officials. In most cases, those salaries are the highest in the nation for state elected officials, according to a survey prepared for the commission.

"I don't think the people would like to see all the salaries stay the same when some people are out on the streets and jobs have been eliminated," said Charles Murray, chairman of the California Citizens Compensation Commission, which met Tuesday.

The commission was created by voters in 1990 to decide pay and benefit levels for eight statewide elected officials, four members of the tax-collecting Board of Equalization and the 120 state legislators. It met for about 20 minutes and asked its staff for a written legal opinion on whether it could cut pay levels.

Murray, head of an insurance services company, said the commission would meet again in late May or early June to decide whether to approve pay cuts.

He said as far as he was aware it would be the first time the commission had voted to slash salaries, although it has imposed wage freezes several times as the state has battled persistent budget problems over the years.

He did not specify how much of a cut should be considered.

[goldstategop]

Cut it back to the California median of $34,000. Then elected officials will be more inclined to consider how average Californians must live on that income and budget accordingly. And eliminate the pensions that they get which average folks don't have.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[OeOeO]

They should cut pensions on elected officials as well including the retired ones.

[ElkGroveDan]

Just as long as they leave staff alone.

[ElkGroveDan]

And eliminate the pensions that they get which average folks don't have.

California legislators don't get pensions.

[EagleUSA]

This state’s (Calif) legislators should be sent a HUGE BILL for thier malfeasant spending and support of illegals. They are costing the taxpayers a grotesque amount of money with their pork and politics.

(So what is new, I know)

[mgstarr]

Just as long as they leave staff alone.

Why? There are far too many of them.

[sheana]

Cut it back to the California median of $34,000.

And cut in sessions to about 3 mnths per yr. The less time they are there the less damage they could do. With pay like that they might also get a real job.

[pointsal]

Make every day over 30, a pay cut...

[ElkGroveDan]

Why? There are far too many of them.

Not Republicans. And to be honest there really aren't that many staff in the offices of members outside the leadership like Speaker and pro Tem.

[DoughtyOne]

How about they get no pay until the budget is balanced. End of story!

[Publius6961]

Just remember, it was the stupid California voters to consciously reinstated the legislators' ability to set their own salaries.
They were, the voters, at least 51% of them, too stupid to realize what they were voting for.

The crooks' salaries have not only gone up dramatically, but continuously.

We not only get the government we deserve, but actually voted for!

[tips up]

Cry me a river...

[Drango]

He did not specify how much of a cut should be considered.

Floating the idea like some poop in the toilet bowl. Wondering if anyone can sink it.

[calcowgirl]

How about they just reverse the pay hike Arnie instituted for the non-elected officials.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1701456/posts

CA: Bosses could get big raises - Governor says law’s only beneficiary may be the prisons chief
Sac Bee ^ | 9/14/06 | John Hill
Posted on 09/14/2006 10:19:48 AM PDT by NormsRevenge

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill Wednesday that includes a provision added in the waning days of the legislative session allowing his administration to nearly double the pay of 50 top state bosses. ... top administrators would qualify for as much as $258,125. Under current law, salaries ... top out at about $138,000.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

What you said.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Cut sessions to 3 months per year AND meet every other year. Problem solved.

[mgstarr]

There are thousands too many of bureaucrats in this state of all parties and at all levels. We don’t need them. There’s also no need for a full-time legislature of overpaid political hacks who don’t seem to do anything apart from make pointless new laws and spend my money.

[ElkGroveDan]

There are thousands too many of bureaucrats in this state of all parties and at all levels.

In California legislative staff aren't bureaucrats. They are at-will employees who can be terminated at any time without cause.

By the way when you go to the DMV to renew your license and they tell you you don't have a drivers license and never have had one, or that you owe $3000 in registration fees for an 18-wheeler big rig, who are you going to call to get it straightened out? Maybe your local state representative in the Senate or the Assembly who can get it fixed in a day or less?

When you hear stories on talk radio about outrageous bills that have been introduced by Democrats who do you think caught those bills, analyzed them, and then made sure the talk show producer had the information and a Republican legislator to go on the air and explain what's going on? Maybe Republican legislative staff? (...who make less on average than the bureaucrat answering phones down at the Department of Food and Ag.)

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks...