Controller halts pay for California lawmakers

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43484596/ns/us_news-life/

updated 1 hour 20 minutes ago 2011-06-21T19:58:07

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California state Controller John Chiang announced Tuesday he was halting pay for state lawmakers, saying their budget plan was not balanced and did not meet the state's requirement for them to be paid.

Chiang issued his decision after conducting an analysis of the budget package pushed through by Democratic lawmakers last week on a simple majority vote. Lawmakers said they believed that action allowed them to continue receiving paychecks, but Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed the package, saying he didn't want to see billions more in borrowing or questionable maneuvers.

Chiang, a Democrat whose office issues paychecks, found the package did not meet the constitutional requirements for a balanced budget.

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Under Proposition 25, a voter-passed initiative aimed at approving budgets on time, lawmakers don't get paid their salary or living expenses if they miss the deadline.

The June 15 budget fell $1.3 billion short in education funding, KNBC of Los Angeles reported.

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