The Democratic Party

Schwarzenegger to Slash 200k State Workers' Pay to $6.55 an Hour

Posted by Matt Ortega on July 31, 2008 at 02:45 PM

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In California, word broke last week that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is attempting to slash the pay of 200,000 state workers down to the federal minimum wage of $6.55 an hour.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger plans to sign an executive order next week that will reduce pay for more than 200,000 state workers to the federal minimum wage of $6.55 per hour to preserve cash in the midst of a month-long budget standoff, according to a draft copy of the order obtained by The Bee.

$6.55 an hour to pay the rent, keep the lights on, gas up their cars and feed their families. For some perspective, in college at the University of Arizona, I worked 40 hours a week on $7.85 and struggled to pay a modest rent along with all the bills, and I did not drive a car then, either. Gov. Schwarzenegger expects families to survive on $262 gross pay per week?

Democrats across the state are fighting this attempt to thrust the burden of the California budget onto the shoulders of 200,000 state workers with massive cuts.

Controller John Chiang, Speaker of the Assembly Karen Bass, Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, and twenty-seven members of the California congressional delegation led by Rep. Hilda Solis are leading the fight to stop Arnold from shifting the budget burden onto 200,000 state workers.

Comments (3) «

Matt, I appreciate your perspective here but you aren't speaking on behalf of the whole democratic party. The state of California needs to be run more like a business, I don't think that anyone will argue with that. These cuts will certainly shift the labor market, and yes they'll affect families that may be living comfortably today, but let's say Washington pulled all troops and spending out of Iraq tomorrow, do you think that all those who are supported by these efforts (soldiers, Halliburton employees, other defense contractors and the like) would emerge unscathed? Likely not, and I am sure there'd be a slightly different public opinion about it.

Sometimes minimum wage work is just that. It can be done part time by students, requires little to no training, but perhaps leads eventually to a more comfortable role which can better support a family. If every job in California should be able to support a family, then we should be attacking minimum wage. And if so, what is the point to going to college if I can comfortably support a family on minimum wage?

RyanM on August 12, 2008 at 09:04 AM

Typical Republican everyone makes too much money but them.

chambax2 on August 28, 2008 at 07:39 PM

Arnold will not be back!!! What a joke, this guy is an embarrassment to all who affilitate themselves with politics. As the days go he shows his true colors (Elitist, Fascist, Moron).

-HT

htaylor on September 4, 2008 at 01:05 AM