{ John Chiang } Controller to legislators: No budget, no pay

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 6/2/11 | Marisa Lagos, Chronicle Staff Writer

[SmithL]

Sacramento -- California lawmakers will have to go without a paycheck after June 15 if they do not pass a balanced budget within the next two weeks, state Controller John Chiang announced today.

The announcement follows questions over whether a budget bill approved in March would satisfy the state's constitutional requirement that the Legislature pass a balanced budget by June 15. That bill did not solve the state's entire budget deficit, though it is technically the official budget bill for the 2011-12 fiscal year that begins July 1.

California lawmakers routinely fail to pass a balanced budget on time, but the issue is more important this year because last fall, voters approved a ballot measure that barred legislators from collecting salaries and benefits if they do not meet the June 15 deadline.

In years past, lawmakers had to forgo their pay if a budget was late, but would collect back pay once they passed a budget. Prop. 25 bars legislators from ever receiving back pay, and also lowered the threshold for passing a budget from two-thirds to a simple majority.

[SoldierDad]

And, they should forfeit all the pay lost after the deadline.

[SMARTY]

No tickie, no laundry

[goodnesswins]

We the citizens should demand the same of the US Senate!

[paul51]

big deal. It only accrues until they get paid in full. What a joke

[SmithL]

You don’t seem to have read even the little bit I excerpted.

[paul51]

care to make a bet what the outcome is?

[SmithL]

The outcome, like last year, and the many years before that, will be a smoke-and-mirrors budget that everyone knows is a pack of lies. This year, though, they’ll pass it without any Republican votes, and then blame Republicans when the budget is exposed as a complete fraud.

What do I win?

[paul51]

....and they will collect all their compensation in full,,,as I was saying