After seventeen months of furloughs, state workers continue to carry the load for budget shortfalls. Rather than working to build consensus on a real solution, Schwarzenegger is defending a failed policy to unilaterally and illegally cut state worker wages.

Schwarzenegger’s furloughs hurt all Californians. The Governor is seeking to cut the budget gap on the backs of dedicated public servants who, for years, have accepted less from the state than private sector employers because they want to do the people’s work. Public workers do important work – building roads and bridges, supporting the disabled and elderly and ensuring public safety – and they get paid less than comparable private sector employees – before taking a 14% furlough pay cut.

As a local issue, furloughs have devastated Sacramento’s economy. The State of California is far and away our region’s largest employer, with more than ninety thousand local workers. Three furlough days have directly cut over half a billion dollars in lost wages from our local economy and have indirectly led to thousands of other local non-state workers losing their jobs. (SacBee)

Schwarzenegger talks about ‘sharing the pain’, but focuses on policies that target our region and disproportionately hurt the middle class. Today, in Oakland, the Alameda Superior Court is hearing arguments on the legality of Schwarzenegger’s furloughs. Schwarzenegger’s lawyers claim it is a necessary ‘emergency’ measure. Judge Roesch wondered, “How can you have an emergency that’s seventeen months long?” That is a good question, judge. It is time for our government to craft real, long term solutions to California’s budget issues, instead of gimmicks that hurt Californians but play well in the press.