http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/2547646.html
Last Modified: Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010 - 5:04 pm, by Jon Ortiz jortiz@sacbee.com
The state Senate today approved a bill to end three-day-a-month furloughs for state employees who work in departments that are funded largely by fees or the federal government. SBX 8 29 would end furloughing workers in departments that get at least 95 percent of their funds from fees or federal money, such as the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Employment Development Department. The measure also exempts from furloughs tax collecting agencies such as the Franchise Tax Board. The state controller has estimated the change would free about 80,000 employees from furloughs. Senators approved the measure, written by Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, on a 30-6 vote. "The across-the-board furlough policy has been bad for Californians, bad for our state budget, and bad for our economy," Steinberg said in statement. The bill now goes to the Assembly.
Here's the Governor's proposed way out for others: -15%
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger challenged lawmakers to find another way to save the money if they want to end furloughs. The governor, who instituted furloughs a year ago, has proposed that they expire June 30, with the savings replaced with a 5 percent pay cut, a 5 percent increase in employees' contribution to their retirement and a 5 percent unallocated cut to state departments.
Posted by Kathy Meeh
No comments:
Post a Comment