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Furlough announcement rattles many California state workers
sacbee.com ^ | Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009 | | Andrew McIntosh

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 ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; US: California
KEYWORDS: broke; dimocrats; money
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To: BenLurkin

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.


21 posted on 01/10/2009 1:36:16 PM PST by sinanju
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To: Freedom4US

The markets are irrelevent at this point.


22 posted on 01/10/2009 1:37:38 PM PST by screaminsunshine (.)
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To: Freedom4US

Unless you see a way out? What is it?


23 posted on 01/10/2009 1:38:53 PM PST by screaminsunshine (.)
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To: RegulatorCountry

“....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.


24 posted on 01/10/2009 1:40:59 PM PST by proxy_user
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To: BenLurkin

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...


25 posted on 01/10/2009 1:42:56 PM PST by FlingWingFlyer (CIA Director!....So easy, a caveman can do it!)
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To: proxy_user

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.


26 posted on 01/10/2009 1:46:17 PM PST by RegulatorCountry
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To: BenLurkin

“I’m a single parent. I’m barely making it as it is,” Deaton said. “It’s just devastating to me. It’s awful.”

****************************

The state’s income taxes are devastating to the rest of us.


27 posted on 01/10/2009 1:49:59 PM PST by ROTB (GOD sez "You will not envy your neighbors' [anything]." Cut it our with class envy you Communists!)
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To: Red_Devil 232
Finally, govt. workers are facing what those of us in the private sector have faced off and on all of our working lives. They wanted their wages to be that of the private sector and more, along with the heavy benefit package that those of us in the private sector don't have.

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.

28 posted on 01/10/2009 1:50:59 PM PST by Parmy
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To: BenLurkin

Database of California public employee salaries:

http://www.sacbee.com/statepay/


29 posted on 01/10/2009 1:51:35 PM PST by LibFreeOrDie (Obama promised a gold mine, but he will give us the shaft.)
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To: BenLurkin
Bindu Kang, 37, a research program analyst in the Medi-Cal area for the Department of Public Health Services, was one of several state workers who greeted details about the furlough plan with resignation.

"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.

30 posted on 01/10/2009 1:53:36 PM PST by An Old Man (Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do, or Do without.)
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To: sinanju
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.

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.

31 posted on 01/10/2009 2:02:47 PM PST by Jacquerie (Want to die wallowing in your own filth? Support Obamacare.)
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To: rjones42
I agree completely. If I knew one of these workers, I'd tell him — sincerely and consolingly — that he is very fortunate. He will not lose his job, as many in the private sector have; he still has great benefits, including medical; a ten percent cut in salary isn't easy to take, but at least prices everywhere are down, so their money buys more; and they now have two three-day weekends — not counting paid holidays — a month off. I think many of these people will end up relishing the additional days off. Although most people (including me) wouldn't be happy with a 10% pay cut, many (including me) would trade say, five percent, of their salary for an additional day or two off a month.
32 posted on 01/10/2009 2:03:25 PM PST by utahagen
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To: BenLurkin
Kang was heading home to review her own spending. She may have to cut her lawn service

Two-fer bonus, government doesn't cost as much and an illegal alien goes back to mexico

33 posted on 01/10/2009 2:07:28 PM PST by theymakemesick (Buraq (buh- rok) Winged creature that carried mohammed on his Night Journey from Mecca to Jerusalem)
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To: BenLurkin

Searchable database of CA govt salaries.


34 posted on 01/10/2009 2:11:10 PM PST by PghBaldy (Obama showing off his crotch: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=550_1210277599)
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To: BenLurkin
The CA mess reminds me of the way the media handled the 1995 budget/government shut down by der Slickmeister. Day after day the pubbies were blamed and there were endless film clips of poor, poor government workers.
35 posted on 01/10/2009 2:19:22 PM PST by Jacquerie (Islam is a barbaric political system in religious drag.)
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To: rockabyebaby

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...


36 posted on 01/10/2009 2:20:47 PM PST by RebelTXRose
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To: Jacquerie

Cut all benefits to ilegals. That would probably amount to the state debt.


37 posted on 01/10/2009 2:20:58 PM PST by Comparative Advantage
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To: screaminsunshine

“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.


38 posted on 01/10/2009 2:25:09 PM PST by Rebelbase
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To: Travis McGee

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!


39 posted on 01/10/2009 2:25:10 PM PST by RebelTXRose
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To: Rebelbase

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??


40 posted on 01/10/2009 2:28:04 PM PST by screaminsunshine (.)
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