(California) Governor to lay off workers if no budget deal

[XemaSab]

Source: SF Chronicle

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will send layoff warnings to 20,000 state workers Friday if the Legislature has not approved a deal to close California's $42 billion gap, the governor's spokesman said today.

"We don't have a budget and there's only a few things that the governor can do to save the state money," said Aaron McLear, a Schwarzenegger spokesman.

The lowest-seniority employees in each department who are paid by the state's general fund would get the layoff notices, although the number of jobs eliminated would be 10,000, McLear said.

Cutting the jobs would save the state $150 million in the 2009-10 fiscal year, which begins July 1, McLear said.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/10/BAMT15RF5P.DTL&tsp=1

[Cleita]

1. I hope he includes himself in that lay off.

Time to resign Arnold while you still have both your testicles.

[XemaSab]

2. After all that steroid use

I'd be surprised if he could still FIND his testicles. :eyes:

[slackmaster]

6. It wouldn't make any difference

He's taking only $1 per year as his salary.

[Cleita]

7. He isn't even worth that. It would make a huge difference. The Lt.

Gov. John Garamendi would become Governor and Garamendi has at least proved himself to be competent in former positions in Sacramento.

[bliss_eternal]

3. At least 80% of the blame should be "special elections"

...at least one of which Schwarzennegger himself insisted upon, AFTER taking office as THE Budget Repair Guy. :eyes: He promptly declared war on all of our state employees, and cut the budget which perhaps could have saved people and homes quicker during one of our major CA fires.

[Hope And Change]

4. Hey, he should continue his tax cuts.

:eyes:

[shanti]

9. exactly

now there's no money for another to oust HIM!

[NV Whino]

5. Yeah, Arnie, lay off!

Oh wait....

[shanti]

8. oh, he's gonna do it

make no mistake about that! thing is, he hornswoggled SOME of the state workers by telling them that he wouldn't have to lay off people if they furloughed. made them feel ok with the furloughs, like they were doing a good deed or something.

he planned this all along. :(

[annm4peace]

10. Tell the GUV to stop being a Girlie Man !

He could tax those who have profited the most on the backs of American workers for the past 8 years.

Tax the War Profiters and Oil companies.


Tax the companies in CA and the oil/gas revenue.

Tax Chevron, Boeing, Lockheed, etc.


Close the loopholes.

[Garbo 2004]

12. Gov doesn't have the power to raise taxes. 2/3 majority in legislature required for appropriations

and Repubs can and have been blocking various budgets that involve increasing taxes/fees. Repubs in CA Legislature have threatened to censure any Repub legislator who votes to raise taxes.

What they want is major cuts in programs and regulatory changes favorable to bidness...most likely at the expense of workers/public.

[ChazII]

11. Time for a pay cut Arnie - yours. n/t