The Governator Cuts State Workers' Pay and Fires 22,000 in CA

The Governor did what he said he would do today. He just cut the pay for over 200,000 state workers to the federal minimum of $6.55/hour and fired 22,000 temporary or seasonal workers. We do have someone fighting back and that is Democratic Controller John Chiang. SacBee:

While budget delays have nearly become an annual rite in the Capitol, Schwarzenegger argues that this year calls for drastic steps because the state has less cash due to a sour economy. The move could save roughly $1 billion per month, and the governor believes California will not have a sufficient cash reserve in September without the executive order.

But Democratic state Controller John Chiang disputes Schwarzenegger's view of the state's cash situation, insisting the state has enough cash to last through September without engaging in expensive borrowing. Chiang has vowed to defy part of the governor's order by paying state workers their full wages, though he cannot help temporary state employees retain their jobs.