Arnold just reduced my pay to Federal minimum wage

[Danny Tse]

A lousy $6.55/hour....before taxes

http://cbs5.com/politics/state.worke....2.784236.html

[SolidSqual]

How old are you?

[ND13]

That SUX!!!

[MKZ]

same in NY budget cut.

[SolidSqual]

Eh . . . I hope you don't have a family to support. That would suck. Fact is however that the population most affected by this is the young pimple nosed teenies, who Arnold can afford to piss off.

[Danny Tse]

How old are you?

That doesn't matter....does it?

Hmmm....no response from the union. I'd think they were prepared for this.

Edit: Just saw your response, SolidSqual. No, I am still single (but engaged). However, I have bills to pay and a mother to support. Does anyone want to see this puppy starve?

[obieone]

My condolences.

[SolidSqual]

That doesn't matter....does it?

Hmmm....no response from the union. I'd think they were prepared for this.

Sure it does. Most people on minimum wage are young with no responsibility.

[Norm Apter]

Sure it does. Most people on minimum wage are young with no responsibility.

Hmmm....maybe in some places. I would venture to say that in California there are tons of adults who bear the financial responsibility to raise families that subsist on a minimum wage.

[SolidSqual]

That Dog is awesome! I have never seen a dog that looks so much like a stuffed animal. I will pay to feed the dog!

[dkg999]

Sell the southern half of the state to Mexico. Budget problem solved!

[Norm Apter]

A lousy $6.55/hour....before taxes

http://cbs5.com/politics/state.worke....2.784236.html

I'm really sorry to hear that. Its really quite strange, from one angle. Yes, I realize we have been having major budget problems for the past 7 years here in California (tuition at the UC schools was going up 20% annually for a few years and still is climbing), but you would think that in a state with a higher cost of living than most they would strive to keep pay above the federal level.

[SolidSqual]

"But administration officials, who asked to remain anonymous, said that about 200,000 of the state's 245,000 workers, both hourly and salaried, will see their pay trimmed back to the federal minimum wage of $6.55 an hour, saving the state up to $1.2 billion a month. Dropping the temporary and short-time workers will save an additional $28.5 million each month."

That's all? Just 200,000 people in all of CA? Drop in the bucket. Not good news but better than losing your job.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...UH46.DTL&tsp=1

[Face]

Has there been any talk of a walk out or strike? That's ridiculous! My condolences to you.

[SolidSqual]

I'm really sorry to hear that. Its really quite strange, from one angle. Yes, I realize we have been having major budget problems for the past 7 years here in California (tuition at the UC schools was going up 20% annually for a few years and still is climbing), but you would think that in a state with a higher cost of living than most they would strive to keep pay above the federal level.

Makes you wonder where all that money is going. How could CA have such a deficit?

[Danny Tse]

That Dog is awesome! I have never seen a dog that looks so much like a stuffed animal. I will pay to feed the dog!

This is Bogie's reaction when he heard Arnold's decision....

I'm really sorry to hear that. Its really quite strange, from one angle. Yes, I realize we have been having major budget problems for the past 7 years here in California (tuition at the UC schools was going up 20% annually for a few years and still is climbing), but you would think that in a state with a higher cost of living than most they would strive to keep pay above the federal level.

Even when we had a budget surplus, the CA legislature couldn't pass a State budget on time For the record, the State minimum wage is higher than the Federal minimum wage and here in San Francisco, where I am located, the minimum wage is over $9.00/hour.

[ND13]

Makes you wonder where all that money is going. How could CA have such a deficit?

Ummm, maybe supporting all the illegals.

[Danny Tse]

Has there been any talk of a walk out or strike? That's ridiculous! My condolences to you.

We were outside during lunch screaming "Sell the HumVee!!"

[sucks2beme]

How is minimum wage better than getting laid off?
Any other job you go to will pay at least as well or better.
Time to move on.

[Demiurge]

In the article it says you'll be reimbursed for your full salaries after a budget deal is reached. He's using the government as his leverage tool in getting the deal done by creating a group of people who will scream like hell at the people holding up the budget.

Makes sense, and while it's temporary suckage or you guys, it's nice a politician is aiming it at the public sector for once.

[SolidSqual]

In the article it says you'll be reimbursed for your full salaries after a budget deal is reached. He's using the government as his leverage tool in getting the deal done by creating a group of people who will scream like hell at the people holding up the budget.

Makes sense, and while it's temporary suckage or you guys, it's nice a politician is aiming it at the public sector for once.

Right on the freakin' money!

[Danny Tse]

Makes sense, and while it's temporary suckage or you guys, it's nice a politician is aiming it at the public sector for once.

On the other hand, according to my sources, it will take the State a couple of months to reprogram its computers to print out paychecks at minimum wage. :D

[Norm Apter]

Even when we had a budget surplus, the CA legislature couldn't pass a State budget on time For the record, the State minimum wage is higher than the Federal minimum wage and here in San Francisco, where I am located, the minimum wage is over $9.00/hour.

Danny, just out of curiousity, when was the last time that CA had a surplus? I just moved here in fall 2000 for grad school. It seems like there has been a deficit ever since then. I don't feel like true Californian; I just remember that things seemed particularly glum around 2002-03 and that things have never seemed remotely close to upbeat.

Any insight into what incurred the state deficit? Was it tied to the huge energy debacle back in the 1990s???

[reeltrouble1]

Seen this done a couple times with the FEDS, always got paid in the end, once I got to sit at home for about two weeks while the parties fired spin shots at each other.

They forgot he's the Terminator.

RT1

[Demiurge]

On the other hand, according to my sources, it will take the State a couple of months to reprogram its computers to print out paychecks at minimum wage. :D

Hah, having to deal with the military and their contractors on almost a daily basis I have no doubt that's true. :D

I'll bet something will happen before this officially goes down.

[Danny Tse]

Danny, just out of curiousity, when was the last time that CA had a surplus? I just moved here in fall 2000 for grad school. It seems like there has been a deficit ever since then. I don't feel like true Californian; I just remember that things seemed particularly glum around 2002-03 and that things have never seemed remotely close to upbeat.

Any insight into what incurred the state deficit? Was it tied to the huge energy debacle back in the 1990s???

If I remember correctly, the last CA State budget surplus was during the dot com boom era....in the late 90s. And it has been downhill ever since....

The general concensus on the budget deficit comes down to overspending by the government. It's not due to not having enough tax revenues.

[WilliamM2]

Danny, what is it that you do for the government? Would this job pay better in the private sector? Maybe it's time to move on.

[Danny Tse]

Danny, what is it that you do for the government? Would this job pay better in the private sector? Maybe it's time to move on.

I am an analyst for the State Public Utilities Commission. I am currently working on determining subsidies for phone companies out in the middle of nowhere (think Mojave Desert) so that every Californian can have phone service (there is no cell phone service nor electrical service in remote parts of CA). One of the issues with all of the analysts here at our State agency is that we are underpaid, even when compared to other utilities analysts at other government agencies. Like those across the street at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. We are underpaid anywhere from 15% to 35% when compared to other government utilities analysts. Given that the State PUC is headquartered in SF, with extremely high cost of living, we get no geographic differentials. Unlike the Federal employees down the street.

Forget about comparing our pay to those in private sector. Let's just say I can almost qualify as "low income" for City of San Francisco programs.

[shack]

Let's just say I can almost qualify as "low income" for City of San Francisco programs.

I'm thinking food stamps.

A part time job at MickyDs would double your income. ;) Just a thought.

[Frank840]

that blows.... i would start selling crack ..