Controller Halts Pay for California Lawmakers

John ChiangWow, they should do this in Canada and Quebec, we would save tons of money on MPs wages!

Thanks to @MarcSnyder for posting this on Twitter.

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CONTROLLER HALTS PAY FOR CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, June 21, 2011 at 6:41 PM ET

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California's controller took the rare step Tuesday of halting paychecks for all 120 state lawmakers after he determined they failed to meet a voter-approved requirement aimed at getting the Legislature to approve balanced budgets on time.

Controller John Chiang said he reviewed the budget approved last week by Democrats on a simple majority vote and determined it was not balanced. Chiang, a Democrat, said lawmakers therefore did not meet the requirement for getting paid under Proposition 25, which voters approved in November.

Lawmakers can start receiving their salaries and expenses again once they pass a balanced budget. They will not be retroactively paid for the days the budget was late.

The decision sparked sharp criticism from lawmakers and could be challenged in court. Assemblyman Mike Gatto, D-Los Angeles, said Chiang decided to withhold pay for political reasons.

"I halted a fulfilling private sector career path to enter public service. I now have to explain to my wife and daughter that we won't be able to pay the bills because a politician chose to grandstand at our expense," Gatto said.

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