California Attorney General Jerry Brown ruled Thursday that the California Citizens Compensation Commission can cut the salaries of state lawmakers, setting in motion an 18% pay cut for members of the Assembly and Senate. The salary reduction will take effect Dec. 7, and reduce legislators' pay from $116,208 a year to $95,291.
Lawmakers, who along with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, have apporved pay cuts for state employees, ironically battled against their own pay being reduced. That brought on criticism that the legislators were being hypocritical -- asking everyone but themselves to sacrifice during the state budget crisis.
They even put up front-men to do their anti-pay-cut dirty work. The lawmakers' backers contended that the citizens commission did not have the authority to cut the pay in mid-term. They sought a legal opinion from the attorney general on the legality of the commission's action. Legislators could challenge Brown's opinion in court, but that would really be bad form as they approach the 2010 elections.
Here's part of Brown's opinion:
"In response to your question as to whether the California Citizens Compensation Commission can reduce the salaries of legislators during their terms of office, the short answer is yes."
"Timeout"...Did "Moonbeam" cut his own pay also with this ruling?...Hopefully he'll get indicted over the California ACORN episode...if not the idiot majority will probably make him governor of what's left of the "Once Golden" state.
I am pleased that salaries are bein g cut. Thewy have not earned their pay for many years. Brown had his chance at running the state and as I recall he didn't do a bang up job then and wouldn't now either. Just because people know that doesn't mean they wont vote for him like they did for Obama.
While I generally dislike calls to reduce legislators' compensation (the calls are usually based on vengeance), I think this would be an appropriate step to take because the state just doesn't have the money to meet all of the committments it has made in the past and most other state employees are taking cut backs too.
However, to make this more effective, I think this cutback should be in the form of furlough days because they seem to be most dangerous when they are in session.
Joe, My favorate quote from Ambrose Bierce, a San Francisco journalist of over a hundred years ago, went to the effect that " When the Senate and General Assemble in all their majesty in Sacramento are met, not a man woman or child in the state is safe"
It's about time that the legislators feel a little of what the rest of us are feeling. With all the perks that they get there is no recession for them. 18% is nothing compare with what the rest of the citizens are going through. They all need to earn their salaries, reduce it by 25% and please do NOT vote for Jerry Brown.