Will you stand with John Chiang against Arnold?

I just got this note from State Controller John Chiang this afternoon. I wrote last week that John had made it clear that he will not comply with any Executive Order from Governor Schwarzenegger to reduce the pay of state workers to minimum wage until a state budget is passed.

When I received word that Gov. Schwarzenegger was proposing to use California’s state workers as pawns in the budget battle by cutting their pay to the federal minimum wage of $6.55, I said civil servants should not bear the brunt of the budget stalemate.

Since then, thousands of Californians have joined with me to protest the Governor’s proposed — and needless — order to slash the pay of California’s public servants. I want you to know I will stand strong against the Governor’s threats.

Show Gov. Schwarzenegger that you stand with me by signing the California Democratic Party’s petition at www.cadem.org/supportcaliforniaworkers.

Forcing public servants to involuntarily loan the State cash by foregoing their hard-earned paychecks puts an untenable burden on our teachers, health care workers and those who provide critical public services.  That is just wrong.

Requiring a cut in pay for public employees — especially as they, like many of us, struggle with their mortgages and higher gas and food prices — will not only cause significant harm to those families, but also irreparably impact our fragile economy by further eroding consumer spending. It hurts us all.

I thank the thousands of you who signed the California Democratic Party’s petition supporting my call for responsible and honest management of our state finances. Your support will send a strong message to the governor to quit the political posturing and show real leadership in resolving the budget crisis.

Sincerely,

John Chiang
Controller
State of California

P.S. And if you haven’t signed the petition already, please take a moment right now to do so.

www.cadem.org/supportcaliforniaworkers

So please take a moment to sign on to the petition and Stand Up to Arnold.