Posted on 01/10/2009 1:15:33 PM PST by BenLurkin
Some were furious. Others were sad, even tearful. Many more accepted the news with graceful resignation, trying to hide their worries.
At the end of a week that brought nothing but more grim economic news, that's how dozens of state workers greeted the state personnel department's announcement that thousands of California public servants will be furloughed two Fridays a month and lose 10 percent in pay, starting Feb. 6.
None found the prospect of two three-day weekends a month appealing in the current economy.
"Sweet Jesus, help me God," sighed Jolene Deaton, a vital records staffer at the Department of Public Health who lives in West Sacramento.
Deaton fought back tears outside her downtown office building as she clutched a state memo announcing the furloughs in one hand and a sacbee.com news report about the plan in the other.
"I'm a single parent. I'm barely making it as it is," Deaton said. "It's just devastating to me. It's awful."
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's furloughs aim to save the state more than $1 billion in an effort to cut a $40 billion budget deficit and avoid running out of cash. State employee unions argue that the Republican governor's plan is unconstitutional, and their lawyers have taken the governor and the state to court.
Sacramento Superior Court Judge Patrick Marlette agreed Friday to hear arguments in the case on Jan. 29.
Susan Mattson, 51, said she and her husband, Mike, who work for different offices of the Department of Employment Development's disability insurance branch, will suffer if furloughs proceed.
"We get hit twice," she complained during a walk around the state Capitol. "We didn't think it would happen."
Mattson was commiserating with two office colleagues, including Margo Hattin, 36, who was horrified by the news. Hattin just bought a home on her own.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
I’m wondering if we’re about to see the states, blue and red, turn on their illegal aliens and give them the boot, out of sheer desperation.
The markets are irrelevent at this point.
Unless you see a way out? What is it?
“....since she bought a home in Sacramento right in the middle of the worst collapse in housing values there on record.
Yes, she probably got a very good deal - very low mortgage rate, too.
It’s all part of the DemocRATS’ “new direction” America! We all need to get used to it! The party is over. The gravy train has reached the end of the line. The cows have come home to roost! (Det. Frank Drebin). It’s the new path to serfdom. The ‘RATS are going to make people in this country live like people live in impoverished nations all over the world. The “messiah” told us he was going to do this. Remember that speech about us driving our SUVs and ordering Big Macs without first consulting with the UN? Well, here we are...
A good deal that continues to lose value, and now her paycheck is apparently going to be inadequate for her overhead costs. Will she be able to sell that good deal, in a reasonable amount of time, for what she paid for it? No, she won’t. So, that good deal wasn’t such a good deal.
“I’m a single parent. I’m barely making it as it is,” Deaton said. “It’s just devastating to me. It’s awful.”
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The state’s income taxes are devastating to the rest of us.
Now that we, in the private sector, can't ante up any more of the wealth that we create to pay for those who make more than we do, the price is now being paid in the govt. sector.
These people have to realize that they do not create wealth. They are paid with portions of wealth extracted from the wealth creators.
Oh, I know! They say that they pay taxes too. But, they pay taxes on income that comes from taxes that others pay, not from any creation of wealth.
"There's upheaval, and everything else is doing poorly in the economy, so we cannot live in our bubble and live high on the hog," Kang said. "Like everybody else, we have to cut back and tighten our belts."
Kang was heading home to review her own spending. She may have to cut her lawn service or look for a part-time job to make up for lost income.
Bindu Kang understands.
Perhaps a few will try. Their efforts will likely be smacked down by the black-robes, the minor gods who make, rather than interpret the law.
Two-fer bonus, government doesn't cost as much and an illegal alien goes back to mexico
Searchable database of CA govt salaries.
At my last job in Dallas before moving to NY, some people were asked to take paycuts of up to 30% to keep their job. Some did, some just walked out.
It makes me crazy when unions go on strike and still lose their jobs when the company shuts down. Maybe they could all have worked for a little less - benefits included.
I feel for the folks who think they can’t afford a 10% cut - but I suspect that 10% cut is still putting more in their bank account than unemployment would. JMHO...
Cut all benefits to ilegals. That would probably amount to the state debt.
“This depression will be a lot worse than the 30’s.”
We’ve already had breadlines for the past 40 years and called it welfare.
Gee, you think Cali might have a little more dough, if they weren’t shoveling out $billion$ to feed, house, educate medicate and incarcerate millions of illegal invaders?
Don’t get me started on that...my brother is a teacher in Presidio TX. Many of the kids he teaches SLEEP in Mexico and are educated in US/TEXAS because mama made it to TEXAS before they were born!
Well they won’t be able to pay welfare. Then what? I think hyperinflation will be the answer. It is the only way they can pay off. Hyper the dollar and come up with a new improoved money??
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