Posted on 05/20/2009 5:13:26 PM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
No comment on 39?
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.
The tax payers are out of money. Do the numbers....lol
Hope that didn't hurt too much.
C’mon, Arnie’s governor’s salary doesn’t even pay for his yearly body oil usage.
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.
Not at all - I sincerely meant it.
So what do you think of the fact that California’s just murdered Republican Schwarzenegger’s future political career?
He had one? Who knew.
Easy: Cut the things that you increased to get the deficit in the first place.
Legislative derrivatives!
He had one? Who knew.
Apparently you didn't.
He is/was governor of the most populated state.
Of course, his short political career is done now.
lol
I prefer to think of it in Clinton terms. They deserve a 40% pay cut, so they should think about this as being a 22% pay increase.
Yay, State Senator Maldonado! You're definitely one of the (embarrassingly few) Good Guys in CA state government.
Um, not Maldonado. He’s a liberal RINO asshat weasel to rival Ah-nold.
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