Illegal immigrants have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the deficit in this state. The fact that we have the some of the wealthiest people in the country, if not the world, living here that find tax loopholes and do not contribute to the pot like the rest of us do is a bigger part of the problem. Making government workers suffer for the irresponsibilities and short-comings of our representatives is about as logical as punishing police officers monetarily for the crimes that they do not prevent because they are grossly understaffed. I agree that we are inindated with immigrants, but the services that they receive from state agencies and the impact that it makes on our budget does not explain the deficit. Besides, are YOU going to mow your own lawn, cook your own overpriced chain restaurant food, take care of your own damn kids, and wash your own car? How dare you point the finger at immigrants. It is their blood, sweat and tears that allows for us fat, spoiled, lazy Californians to live the lives that we do. I say raise the sales tax to 10 cents on the dollar. At least the math would be easier to figure out!!

So, it turns out that our legislators are not being paid, but the slick little $hits have a work around. Reporting in today's Times, Michael Rothfeld writes,

"Elected officials and their appointees have had their salary withheld since July 1, because [State Comptroller John] Chiang cannot pay them without a budget in place; many are receiving loans with little or no interest from local banks in the interim."

Think the banks will let all those state workers participate in that loan plan? Yeah...right. Is this a not-so-cleverly disguised kickback program? Hmmmm.

There should be an ethics investigation on the propriety of "elected officials and their appointees" borrowing money at below market rates that are unavailable to the people they represent (or would be representing if they were doing their jobs instead of spending their days on the golf course). And they should have to pay taxes on the difference between the interest they're paying and the interest the rest of us would have to pay on the same amount.

And there's still the issue of their voting for their own salary increases!!! There's a word for people who behave like this: deadbeat.

Why don't you do a story on the phony staging at the DMV.
I have heard several people say they waited outside in a
line while there was no one seated inside.
One overheard the employees say they would make them
wait at least an hour.
Could your station have anything to do with this....did no
one look inside as you were reporting?
News is getting just more unbelieveable by the moment!
Shame on you!!!
To bad Hal wasn't here to set you straight!

I agree with Dan and Tim. This whole mess goes back to Enron. Big mouth Arnold talking trash about Gray Davis and now picks on families instead of raising a measly 2 cent tax.

As noted in a previous comment - cut the representatives' salaries to minimum wage as well as the Governor's and definately get the illegals out of the state. They are useless, lazy, free-loading insurgents that come here for a free ride and then complain when they are not hand fed their so call "rights." They have no rights - they are illegal and are not citizens. Have the Government get off its collective lazy buns, kick out the illegals and have thier salaries taken away. See how fast the budget is balanced and how much money the state will have once the free-loaders are gone.

Hey Rick,
You speak the TRUTH!!! You are absolutly right. WAKE UP CALIFORNIA - get the illegals OUT and you will see a huge difference in the economy. I live in a sanctuary city and our schools and hospital have been hit hard but no one wants to do anything about it.
Go to the DMV and you will see illegals standing in line to get their license with their "ID" a fake one. But the authorities don't do anything. Gang violence is all around.
Let's take back our jobs from the illegals and make the employer hire U.S. citizens. Put the scews to the employer.
As long as we have people in office like the Mayors of San Fransico and Los Angeles, Montebello, Monterey Park, Pico Rivera, Santa Ana,who protect the illegals then this state will be in trouble for years to come. These are sanctuary cities and there are more like them.

California has been through a great deal in its many years as a state. Well putting people on unemployement [which costs the state] with others that will have to apply for state aid [again costing the state]. What has he gained? It appears what he is doing is not saving anything - just adding to the costs to the people of California - AGAIN.
Unemployment UP
Wellfare UP
State aid UP
Those who are still working are paying AGAIN for all of this and familys are being put out of their homes and so many other negatives I cannot even think of.
Help us
Don't tear things apart
Mr. Governor - you do not need to be in the spotlight, go back to your office and do the job right. Don't abuse the people of California. You are suppose to protect us.
It can be do - look at California's history - other governors have succeeded in getting the state out of debt.

Rick,

Maybe you're the one who should live in the real world. As for driving and cell phones for kids it more of a matter of safety. With all the freaks and perverts out there, parents need to know and be in contact with their kids. It's not the same world I grew up in. As for Starbucks $5.00 coffee, I agree we don't need that. I don't use them, I get my coffee at 7/11.

Ditto what Tim said! If you're gonna cut salaries to minimum wage, cut all salaries to minimum wage and see how fast it hurts.

What a bunch of babies you people are. So you have to give up your cell phones and not drive your fat assed kids where they want to go. Stay home on the weekends and get to know your neighbors and play games at home with your kids. How much gas is wasted every weekend by parents driving their kids to soccer or hockey of softball. Did your parents drive you all over town when you where growing up. Do kids in elementary and junior high really need cell phones. How many of you really need that 4 dollar cup of Starbucks coffee. It's time the people of California pull their heads out and realize how much money the illegal aliens cost the state and us every year. It's time to live in the real world.

EVERYONE FROM THE GOVERNER DOWN SHOULD HAVE THEIR SALARIES CUT TO 6.75, THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE FAILING US THEY ARE SPENDING MORE MONEY THEN THEY HAVE TO SPEND NOT TO PEOPLE, HAVE THEY FORGOTTEN THAT THEY STILL WORK FOR US OR HAVE WE FORGOTTEN WE HAVE THE POWER TO REMOVE THOSE THAT ARE MAKING THE PROBLEM, WAKE UP PEOPLE AND TAKE BACK THE POWER!!

To cut workers pay rather than legislative salaries (which, ironically, get voted for by the legislators themselves) is absurd.

And, yes, I know that the Governor has no control over our representatives' salaries, which is why the voters need to put together an initiative which would cap legislative salary increases at the average increase given to all workers in the state. While we're at it, we should do the same for all elected bureaucrats such as the LA City Council, the County Board of Supervisors and all the other elected bodies feeding at the public trough. Then when the people of the state are doing well, the legislators will do well and when we're feeling the pain, they'll be feeling it with us.

This arrogant sense of entitlement on the part of our representatives (who are supposed to be working FOR us) needs to stop.

These state workers are absolutely pawns! How does he expect these people to live off $6.55 per hour when they live a lifestyle fit for what they are regularly paid for? I'd like to see these government officials cut back on their luxurious expenses.. It's sad to see the people of California being bullied around by those who are living in mansions and those state officials who are driving their luxury cars. It really makes me sick!

Though Gov. Arnold did this so sacramento to can a budget passed I can understand it, but I don't agree with it. In fact some of the bills the governor has signed into law have made lose a bit respect for him but after this I no longer have respect for him as a Politician, an actor if he goes back to that when he's done up north.

As for the DMV it really depends on who you deal with at the DMV. A couple of years ago I had my licensed renewed and decided to have my photo updated. Everyone I knew told me to go to this one particular DMV office cause they were quick and the people were nice. I went there and no one was nice, and they messed up my address on my license, when I confronted them about they had me fill out another form and they would fix it and they didn't. So I went to another DMV and after waiting about 25 min the person at the counter fixed my problem in less then 5 and I got my new license. Letting DMV employees go in my opinion it depends on attitude.

To the Westminster DMV thanks for fixing the problem on with license.

Are the lawmakers the ones getting their wages cut to minimum wage level? If they were you can bet that they would figure out a way to get us out of this horrible mess. I hate taxes but the 10% sales tax seems like a viable idea. HEY ARNOLD, ARE YOU LISTENING?!?!?

I don't agree with the Govenors actions, but put the blame where it belongs, instead of complaining, call or write the big dummies in Sacramento. Our state is in real trouble and their the ones responsible!! There up there driving their nice cars and getting fat paychecks, spending money we don't have. I just wish they would get their crap together and do the right thing. Quit giving away money we don't have and funding programs that we don't need. Use our money wisely and get this great state back on the right track

I agree with Dan. Raise the sales tax and reduce the pay of the state lawmakers to the
federal minimum wage of $6.55 an hour. That should get them off their asses. And take away their perks too, like state cars. That should save the tax payers some bucks.

It's time for "total recall" of the governator. Gov. Arnold is a mean, cruel bully who's vicitimizing his employees. How can he expect to be respected by his constiuency by demoralizing them and forcing them into financial ruin? Instead, he should be trying to work with the state legislators to hammer out the budget. Eric, where are your fist-shakers?

It's time for "total recall" of the governator. Gov. Arnold is a mean, cruel bully who's vicitimizing his employees. How can he expect to be respected by his constiuency by demoralizing them and forcing them into financial ruin? Instead, he should be trying to work with the state legislators to hammer out the budget. Eric, where are your fist-shakers?

The Governator is going too far here! I am outraged that he insists on using state employees like me to scare state lawmakers to pass a budget and to save money for the state. I am a student at Cal State Fullerton and I also work part-time as a student assistant here on campus. Since I work for the university, this also means that I work for the state as well. I'll be damned if they cut my wages or, even worse, lay me off because the state of California can't pay me anymore.

Just raise the friggin' state sales tax to 10 cents on a dollar and get it over with already! Geez! It's going to have to happen, just bite the bullet now and do it. Raise it from 8 1/4 cents to 10 cents and we should end up with a surplus. This way everybody adds to the deficit whenever they make a purchase. JUST DO IT!