The size of the state workforce has stayed flat, but state agencies have hired nearly 23,000 new workers in the past year and a half. Most of them were not full time. During the same time period, the state lost 18,000 workers to retirement. Who's done the hiring? Here's a list.

California taxpayers are shelling out tens of thousands of dollars to pay legislators per diem for floor sessions they did not attend this year, according to a Sacramento Bee investigation. Only about one if every four absences included the loss of the tax-free $142 per day legislators receive when they are supposed to be on the Legislature's floor. Even the Sacramento Bee's editors decried the practice.

Grief counseling requests have risen in the wake of state-worker suicides, The Sacramento Bee reports. Though the sample is small, the story quotes experts as saying "It's clear that the state's unprecedented labor unrest -- on again, off again furloughs ... rising public disdain for civil servants -- has increaswed tension for a group of people who tend to value security and predictability in their work."

The Professional Engineers in California Government and the California Association of Professional Scientists have filed lawsuits to stop the furloughs, and CalPERS and CalSTRS have filed a joint writ of mandate with the same goal. PECG and CAPS also contend the minimum wage order is illegal. Read CalPERS/CalSTRS writ here.

President Arlene Espinoza, along with ACSS members from Chapters 503 and 504, attended a rally for Jerry Brown in Santa Rosa yesterday. In his speech, Brown called the current tie between him and Meg Whitman, who has spent more than $100 million so far, a "phenomenal outcome" for him. President Espinoza says Brown pointed out that, despite the economic downturn, California's economy was $1.9 trillion last year, one of the highest in the world.

The State Worker examines the job-loss chart Gov. Schwarzenegger totes with him to illustrate that private-sector employees have fared worse in the economic downturn than state workers.

From The State Worker blog: The DPA won some arguments, but not all, in Judge Patrick Marlette's tentative ruling on state Controller John Chiang's criticisms of the DPA pay letter ordering minimum wage for state workers. Some issues were left open to further litigation. The blog item includes links to the ruling and legal documents.

If you want to enroll in CalPERS health care, add new dependents or otherwise change your coverage, you must do so between Sept. 13 and Oct. 8. Adult children now can be covered until they are 26. Coverage will be effective Jan. 1, 2011. CalPERS premiums will increase an average of 9.1 percent. For more information, check the CalPERS open enrollment Web site and open enrollment news pdf.

Labor unions backing Jerry Brown for governor are using the cutting-edge tactic of "micro-targeting" to locate backers in conservative parts of California that Brown will likely struggle to carry. The effort is being led by the California Labor Federation.

The State Worker: Gov. Schwarzenegger may have won a new battle in the war to cut state workers' pay, but, with less than five months left in office, his position has weakened. Layoffs and minimum wage are not likely options for him any more.

From Sacramento Bee Capitol Alert: State Controller John Chiang told the Sacramento Press Club Wednesday that he will soon be printing IOUs if the Legislature and Gov. Schwarzenegger can't agree on a state budget. "If current conditions hold," Chiang said, "we could start issuing IOUs in two to four weeks." The state issued about 450,000 IOUs for two months last summer during a cash crunch as the 2009-2010 budget was being re-written. The state also issued IOUs in 1983 and 1992.
 

Second-day story: The ruling yesterday that furloughs are back on is the latest twist in the roller coaster ride that leaves state workers wondering "What's next?" The state Supreme Court agreed with Gov. Schwarzenegger that the furloughs would continue until the court decides the issue. Oral arguments begin Sept. 8, with a decision expected near the end of the year. Related stories: How are state workers coping (a forum); statement from the governor's office; statement from DPA; LA Times story.

Breaking news from The Sacramento Bee: Furloughs for state workers are back on for Friday. The state Supreme Court has said it will review a lower court ruling that kept Gov. Schwarzenegger from furloughing roughly 144,000 employees last week as he had planned. Updated link includes ruling from Supreme Court Web site. We will continue to monitor and update.

For budget watchers, the nonpartisan California Budget Project has produced two reports this month that clarify the recent budget proposals: "Understanding the Tax Swap" and "How do the Budget Plans Compare?"

Who's out of touch with reality here? Gov. Schwarzenegger told the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce yesterday the current economic downturn has had "no effect" on state employees. The state workers who complain are "not in touch with reality," he said. His proof? Job losses have not increased. The governor did not, apparently, mention bankruptcies, foreclosures and severe belt-tightening.