BBC: Thousands laid off in California ( Arnold does it to State Workers )

BBC ^ | Friday, 1 August 2008 01:33 UK 00:33 GMT | BBC Staff

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thousands laid off in California

The governor said he had not taken his decision lightly

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California has moved to end a budget crisis by sacking 22,000 state workers and ordering pay cuts for 200,000.

The most populous state in the US faces a budget deficit of more than $15bn (£7.6bn), and legislators are struggling to agree a spending plan.

The cuts, which will save $100m a month, are designed to put pressure on politicians to end the budget crisis.

But a leading official in the state challenged the decision to cut pay.

California has one of the largest economies in the world and it has no way to pay contractors for many of the services it provides.

Some 30 American states face budget deficits caused by rising costs and falling revenues in a slumping economy but California's is by far the largest.

'Whatever it takes'

Mr Schwarzenegger, the former Hollywood film star turned Republican politician, told reporters he had signed an executive order on the staff and pay cuts.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

California's state financial controller, John Chiang, a Democrat, has vowed not to implement the pay cuts, saying to do so could risk legal action.

[o_zarkman44]

This is what happens when Democrats have total control of the budget, and a governor (or President) gives them everything they want.

Oh gee. who to blame?

[Oldexpat]

Since none of the cut workers vote for Republicans, there isn’t much pressure on them. The Rats will want to raise taxes,but the GOP won’t.
The standoff may go on for a while. For the sake of the taxpayers..maybe a long time.

[libs_kma]

Well, illegals take a lot of money, and you can’t pay for everything right?

[Steely Tom]

I hope he had the good sense not to lay off any grief councilors.

[blam]

Not to worry:

"California's state financial controller, John Chiang, a Democrat, has vowed not to implement the pay cuts, saying to do so could risk legal action."

"He sent a letter to Mr Schwarzenegger on Thursday saying he would defy the order and issue employees their regular salaries. "

[HwyChile]

They could cut half the government workers and no one would even miss the cuts.

[traviskicks]

wow, if only the federal government would follow suit, and just about every state in the union. We’d all be a lot better off with less workers in government leaching off the private sector.

[Tennessee Nana]

Oh, thank goodness no innocent illegal aliens suffered from the lay offs...

[OKIEDOC]

As I posted earlier.

The only way a person can live on minimum wage in California is to have their home located in a shopping cart.

The politicians in California just do not get gist of the real problems they face.

However, now that California's credit cards have been maxed out the stupid voters who opted for Democrat politicians my want to do some down sizing.

Notice the cuts are always against those least able to afford to have their pay cut.

[Bernard]

A $15 Billion (with a B) deficit? And nobody is working to reduce spending? What an amazing story. Somehow the state of California needs to get some adult supervision in its legislature.

[OKIEDOC]

blam wrote:
Not to worry:
“California's state financial controller, John Chiang, a Democrat, has vowed not to implement the pay cuts, saying to do so could risk legal action.”

“He sent a letter to Mr Schwarzenegger on Thursday saying he would defy the order and issue employees their regular salaries. “

Maybe Senor Chiang will finally piss off the Governador and get terminated.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The voters have chosen NOT to have ADULT supervision....now comes the attack on Prop 13....

[Saundra Duffy]

“California’s state financial controller, John Chiang, a Democrat, has vowed not to implement the pay cuts, saying to do so could risk legal action.

“He sent a letter to Mr Schwarzenegger on Thursday saying he would defy the order and issue employees their regular salaries. “

I knew it was too good to be true.

[exit82]

Time for the obligatory: “Women and Minorities Hurt the Most.”

[libbylu]

California is an example of global warming expenditures AND illegal aliens valued more than common sense.

[randita]

Two of the most heavily taxed states, CA and NY, are facing huge budgetary deficits. Why can’t liberals get the message that you can’t tax your way to prosperity?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Exactly....previous thread:

# # Schwarzenegger: Federal Government 'Asleep at the Wheel' (Global Warming)

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Headline?

Thousands laid-off, hundreds of thousands pay drastically cut
Cut services to undocumented residents? "No!" says Arnold