Furlough announcement rattles many California state workers

sacbee.com ^ | Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009 | | Andrew McIntosh

[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.

[RebelTXRose]

“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.”

REALITY... Illegal is illegal. The only right they have is a trip back where they came from.

[count-your-change]

Arnie feels your pain, he’s going to take a salary cut too while staying on the job.

[Rebelbase]

Maybe they can print the dollar on matchbook covers, then at least it will have some utility.

[theymakemesick]

Amazing site, I'm surprised CA puts those salaries online.

Picking two of the agencies at random and copy/pasting/summing results: $1,101,828.00 for the Afro-American Museum for 18 salaries. Departmental budgets and facilities must bring the total to >$10m. Gambling Control Commission salaries total $5,114,065.92 for 73 employees. Again, budgets and facilities. I didn't even realize that CA had gambling.

[Oatka]

One commenter there suggested that State workers reduce their withholding to take up some of the slack. I’m thinking that people in the free enterprise sector, whose jobs are shaky, might do the same. Those that KNOW they will be laid off might jack up their withholding — state and federal — to zero. It seems prudent to me. Who knows? There might be a bailout for those who didn’t pay their taxes this year. Things are so crazy I’ll start to believe anything.

On top of everything else, decling income taxes will drive the State and the Feds even deeper in the red. As the song says, “I see a bad moon a’risin’.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

She calculated furloughs will cost her $200 a month. She wondered whether she'll be able to keep her car or even keep smoking.

Well, I guess now is as good as any time as any to throw away those cigarettes.

[SeattleBruce]

From the article: "We get hit twice," she complained during a walk around the state Capitol. "We didn't think it would happen."

With all due respect to these folks personal troubles, do state workers think themselves exempt from the debacle created by the Ds with the self inflicted wound of the housing bubble collapse. The economy will adjust itself to the massive, unnatural actions of our leaders including false bubbles created by ignorant do gooders. Now, I'm all for doing good - but in reasonably proven manners - like charity, Habitat for Humanity, etc., not by manipulating markets (Fannie Mae, Freddi Mac, Congressional Democrats), creating bubbles and then screaming and blaming one man in the Executive branch, when your stupid, hair brained schemes don't work out because of your economic ignorance.

In any case, this resulting debacle, which I place squarely on the doorstep of the Democratic equalization of wealth socialist philosophy, will surely impact government as well as the massive private sector layoffs we've seen so far. ===================

BenLurkin (3) "Looks like it is time for these government workers to request some of their union dues back in the form of relief funds."

What do you suppose the chances of that are?! :)

[SeattleBruce]

“this resulting debacle, which I place squarely on the doorstep of the Democratic equalization of wealth socialist philosophy”

How can anyone but ingoramuses and fellow travelers trust the Democrats any more? Does any Freepers think the Rs are just as culpible? Not culipible, but *just* as culpible?

[SeattleBruce]

“declining income taxes will drive the State and the Feds even deeper in the red”

The Feds are 10+ trillion in debt and Obama is predicting 1 trillion dollar deficits for the foreseeable future (hmmmm...wondering what would have happend to Pres. Bush if he’d predicted trillion dollar defecits for years on end...hmmm...and then add what would have happened if he’d done that concurrently to fighting the War on Terror - the Iraq front?? any guesses?)

Anyone want to guess how deep the Feds will go into the red before Obama (and the Ds) are driven from office?

[theymakemesick]

I searched the site for the last name “Mattson”, there was no one close to the name Susan Mattson at the Dept. of Employment. There is a Michael Mattson, a senior electronics tech that works for UC-Davis, not the Department of Employment. Is the Sac-Bee making up stories?

[RetiredArmy]

"Sweet Jesus, help me God," sighed Jolene Deaton, a vital records staffer at the Department of Public Health who lives in West Sacramento.

Well, Jolene, if you are not a Christian, do not believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior, and His Father, then you just wasted your breath because He is not going to be listening too your prayer.

[LibFreeOrDie]

I noticed that, too.

[mad_as_he$$]

Tanks fo dat!

[light-bulb]

Wow!

I just did a search for UC Santa Barbara... I had NO IDEA Professors made that much money. 497 people there make WAY in excess of $100k. Unbelievable!

[Graybeard58]

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.

I've wondered that too. When push comes to shove and even liberals are losing their jobs. they might figure out that it's time for the criminal aliens to get the hell out.

[EBH]

Perhaps a perm. furlough would would be better.

If it ain’t in the budget...it ain’t in the budget.

[marajade]

I believe labor union dues is mandatory in CA unless you claim some sort of religious exemption.

[marajade]

Wait until you need service by a gov’t employee and then we will see how useless you seem to think their service is.

[Chode]

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."

anybody "barely making it" while working for government is living far above their means.

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."

guess ya shoulda had at least ONE real job in the house instead of two SNOUTS IN THE PUBLIC TROUGH!!!

[Mojave]

Great link!