From The Sacramento Bee: The California Supreme Court has ordered union and government attorneys to argue a case that Schwarzenegger lost even though no one had asked the court to review it. The ower courts ruled the governor violated a narrow provision of the state insurance code when he furlough 500 legal staff at the State Compensation Insurance Fund. ACSS had joined a similar lawsuit that ruled the furloughs were illegal for about 7,500 other SCIF workers. The opening arguments must be filed by June 9.

Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, was inaugurated today. Read his speech through a link on The State Worker. Here's one excerpt: "So when the question is asked: Now what? The answer must be: Create jobs. Jobs, jobs, jobs! It is the first domino we have to knock over to get everything else into place." Maldonado has been supportive of state workers and ACSS.

Steve Poizner and Meg Whitman, Republican candidates for governor, debated in San Jose Sunday night. Among their interesting comments were these to do with state workers (as quoted by The Sacramento Bee): Poizner: "We have to fundamentally change our compensation structure for public employees. They're great people … but the unions have taken advantage of their power. … I'd like all public employees to have even their current compensation tied to the health of the economy." Whitman:  "This is the train coming down the track at every single Californian. … It's not fair to ask non-government employees to fund these lavish benefits."

The State Worker blog and other news sources today report on a study released today that showed state and local government employees are better educated but earn less than their private-sector counterparts. Public-sector benefits narrow the gap somewhat don't close it.

In response to the suggestion that California could dramatically reduce state employment with minimal impact on services, the California Budget Project has published a report detailing the breakdown in the state's workforce. The findings: More than half the state's workforce is employed in public safety and education, primarily universities.

Are furloughs and labor turmoil pushing state workers into retirement? The number of Californians who began retirement in January increased more than 30 percent over January 2009, and in all of 2009, state retirements were up almost 18 percent from 2008. Still, with 21,000 workers starting state jobs last year, the state work force shrank by only 1,666 employees. An audit estimates half the state's supervisors and managers could leave by 2016.

AB790, a bill that would have continued state workers' pay if the budget does not pass by the deadline, was defeated in the Senate today. The vote fell four short of the two-thirds majority needed for the "urgency" measure to pass. The bill had already passed the Assembly.

State Controller John Chiang's monthly report for March showed receipts above projections and expenditures below. The positive result is dampened, however, by the state's jobless rate and the reduced person income tax revenues. "The road to recovery will be long and arduous," Chiang said in his press release.

In the past year, Gov. Schwarzenegger has put up a "no service" sign to California residents by locking state workers out of their jobs despite their willingness to serve the public. Moreover, the furloughs are increasing the general fund deficit. (Viewpoint of Assemblyman Hector De La Torre; published in The Sacramento Bee)

Here is an update on the two bills of concern to ACSS: AB 790, the continuous appropriation bill, is back in committee and may come up for a Senate floor vote next week. Gov. Schwarzenegger is expected to veto it. SBX8 29, exempting some state workers from furloughs, is dead. The governor vetoed it and there is no chance for an override vote.

From The State Worker: The Department of Developmental Services has released its plan for closing Lanterman Developmental Center in Pomona. The plan must be approved by the Legislature. ACSS spoke on behalf of its members in support of keeping the facility open and will continue to work toward saving the facility and supporting our members who work there. The DDS press release is here. ACSS welcomes your comment on this blog or by email to lholderness@calcsea.org.

From the Ventura County Star: In what may be a harbinger of the future for state workers, the city of Ventura has approved a two-tier pension plan. Current employees would continue to receive the benefits of the current plan but may have to pay more for them. SEIU Local 721, which represent Ventura city workers, says the new tier will not save the city significant funds for at least 15 years.

Some state workers might like having furlough Fridays off and would continue them if they could, The State Worker column reports today.

The economy isn't rebounding yet, apparently. An Employment Development Department report says the state lost 20,400 jobs in February and the unemployment rate is still 12.5 percent. Read a Sacramento Bee report here.

A Sacramento Bee editorial calls for the end to the furloughs -- not June 30 but now. However, the same piece also urges state worker unions to agree to salary and benefit concessions.