Here are reactions to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to reduce state workers' pay to the federal minimum wage until a budget is passed.
State Controller John Chiang:
"Forcing public servants to involuntarily loan the state cash by foregoing their hard-earned paychecks puts an untenable burden on our teachers, health care workers and those who provide critical public services. That is just wrong.
"Requiring a cut in pay for public employees - especially as they, like many other Californians, struggle with their mortgages and higher gas and food prices - will not only cause significant harm to those families, but also irreparably impact our economy by further eroding consumer spending.
"I have made it crystal clear that we have, and will continue to have, sufficient cash to make all payments, including state payroll, through September. Cutting workers' salaries will do nothing meaningful to improve our cash position or help us make our priority payments.
"This is a cynical attempt by a governor who has spent the past few weeks going up and down the state criticizing others for political posturing. Such an executive order is unnecessary and nothing more than a poorly-devised strategy to put pressure on the Legislature to enact a budget.
"As the Supreme Court has never addressed the legality of withholding full salaries versus paying minimum wage, the governor's proposed executive order would only invite more extensive and expensive litigation. Worse, should the courts find that withholding full pay is illegal, the state will be liable for treble damages.
"I will urge the governor to rethink his proposal and work with us to ensure we manage our state finances in a responsible, realistic and honest manner."
Senate Republican leader Dave Cogdill of Modesto and Assembly Republican leader Mike Villines of Fresno:
"Republicans understand the urgency of getting the budget done as soon as possible, which is our main focus right now. We are working very hard to avoid drastic measures like the one that is being proposed. Republicans are committed to crafting a responsible budget plan that reforms our broken system while protecting taxpayers."
Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles:
"I don't believe the governor would put public servants in the crossfire of this budget battle. But this action would speak to the need for all us -- including the governor -- to negotiate a balanced, responsible budget that protects our schools and the safety net before we run out of cash."
Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter:
"I don't think it is wise for the governor to use working men and women as hostages for the state budget. I think it shows weakness on his part as a negotiator. The men and women who do the hard work that keeps our state running deserve their full pay."
Julia Rosen at Calitics.com:
"This is going to result in a lot of employees needing governmental assistance for basic needs, not that the state has the money to help with that anyways at this point. This is a crisis and this damn well better get some folks up in arms."
Jon Fleischman at FlashReport.org:
"This is huge. Perhaps it is the 'lemonade' of the lemon that is our state budget crisis. We always see the size of state government grow larger and larger. Seldom do we see actual reductions. Unfortunately, when the budget is approved, it is likely that most if not all of those terminated will be rehired -- but perhaps there will be areas of state government where it may be realized that, 'Hey, we're getting along just fine without the expense of that additional position.'
"Then again, probably not. But one can hope..."
Chris Reed, San Diego Union-Tribune editorial board member and author of America's Finest Blog:
"Schwarzenegger is lucky. Chiang is saving him from himself. Arnold made a monumental misjudgment here in his choice of tactics to ratchet up the pressure to cut a budget deal. Last year, the budget standoff went on into late August without similar theatrics. The public would have seen this as a stunt, akin to the Republicans in Congress shutting down the federal government in November 1995. And far from feeling sympathy for state workers, millions of voters would have seen the temporary pay reduction and the inconvenience it caused as something these workers had coming -- especially the elected officials and the Sacramento bureaucrats."
Art Torres, chairman of the California Democratic Party
"Less than a month ago, Governor Schwarzenegger held up his bulging money clip before the media and 'joked' that the state still has plenty of money left.
"Now, the Governor wants many of our state's hardest working public servants to give up their paychecks because the Republicans refuse to pass a balanced budget that protects schools and health care.
"This is no laughing matter.
"I commend Controller John Chiang for standing up to Governor Schwarzenegger on behalf of California's state employees.
"The Governor's actions reaffirm the urgent need for the Governor and the Legislature to come to the table and negotiate a balanced budget in a responsible manner."
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