“Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is considering an order that would slash the paychecks of hundreds of thousands of state workers to the federal minimum wage until the state budget impasse is resolved. The workers would be entitled to recover the difference between their salaries and the minimum wage — $6.55 an hour — once the state enacts a budget and appropriates the money, under an executive order that the governor’s office has drafted and that he is considering signing next week. … Legislative leaders said they agreed with the governor’s call for urgent action on the budget. But Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, said in a statement that slashing the pay of state workers is unfair. ‘I don’t think the governor should put public servants in the crossfire of this budget battle,’ she said.” [editor’s note: Non-government-employed taxpayers are fair game though, right? - TLK] (07/24/08)