AM Alert: Fear, loathing and discounts on Furlough Friday

SacBee: Capitol Alert ^ | 2/6/9 | Shane Goldmacher

[SmithL]

And so the furloughs begin.

In case you're confused about all the back-and-forth on the furloughs for constitutional offices, here's the deal:

Employees in the offices of California's statewide electeds are working today.

But Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger insists he still has the power to furlough them. Both sides are citing the same ruling from a Sacramento Superior Court judge on Thursday.

Long story short: More court battles are likely to follow

Wondering how to spend your furlough day?

Well, the Association of California State Supervisors wants you to head to lawmakers' district offices. "It is vital that your legislators hear from you on this issue, and visiting them in their home offices is one of the most effective ways to approach them," the group wrote to its members earlier this week.

Or you could go skiing.

Squaw Valley USA is offering $30 lift tickets to all furloughed state workers on the first and third Fridays of the month. Just bring your state identification card or a 2009 pay stub as well as a regular ID.

Of course, you can always drink your pay cut woes away. The Rubicon Brewing Company is offering 10 percent off your bill to furloughed statees.

BIRTHDAY: Assemblyman Pedro Nava, D-Santa Barbara, turns 61 today. He's hoping voters give him the gift of becoming attorney general in 2010, after recently filing paperwork to make a run at becoming the state's top cop.

BUDGET UPDATE: The news Thursday was that Senate leader Darrell Steinberg said a vote was upcoming next week. No deal yet, as the negotiations continue behind closed doors.

That secretive process is being pretty well criticized here, here, here, here and here.

[SmithL]

Signs advise customers that the DMV will be closed Friday as part of state furloughs ordered by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as a cost savings measure. Photo taken Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009.

[ExTexasRedhead]

Whining and crying about two days off when millions are off seven days a week. Some of these state workers don’t work even when they’re at work. BTW, no one is asking about the millions of taxpayer monies that are spent on illegals in the CA schools and hospitals and emergency rooms and in the prisons. Where is the audit of every program in the State of CA and the school administrations. Wonder why the CA state assembly “never” looks at themselves first and cuts their pork and their worthless staffers before telling the taxpayers what they have to do without.

[Nervous Tick]

In the exciting race for “cesspool of the century” —

look out Mexico! California is coming up FAST in your rear view mirror!