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AFP Supports Governor’s Minimum Wage Decision

Americans for Prosperity of California calls on State Controller John Chiang to enforce Governor’s commonsense order

With the state budget one week past due, Sacramento politicians are still squabbling over whether to push even more onerous taxes on Californians or cut the profligate spending that has led to the state’s $19.1 billion deficit. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger took a bold step this week by ordering federal minimum wage pay for 200,000 government employees until the budget standoff is resolved. State Controller John Chiang defied the governor’s decision and is suing to prevent the governor from reducing the wages for state workers.

“The state is already facing an almost $20 billion deficit,” stated Peter Foy, Chairman of AFP-California. “We have to make cuts somewhere and while the legislature is busy trying to avoid financial Armageddon through budget gimmickry, at least the governor is trying to ensure the state can momentarily stay afloat.”

“It’s obvious Controller Chiang is in the back pocket of the very union interests that have contributed to our budget mess,” stated David Spady, State Director of AFP-California. “Why on earth would he flout not only the governor, but the courts, unless he was completely beholden to the unions? Unions don’t want the public to know that this minimum wage pay for state workers is only temporary; workers will receive their back pay as soon as the budget is signed.”

“In New Jersey, Governor Chris Christie has taken on the powerful union interests and successfully covered an $11 billion state deficit without raising taxes,” stated Foy. “Hard decisions were required to cover that kind of deficit, but New Jersey managed to cut state spending by 9 percent. At a time when most families are struggling to pay their bills, government should be cutting back how much it takes from our pocketbooks.”

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. AFP has more than 1 million members, including members in all 50 states, and 30 state chapters and affiliates. More than 60,000 Americans in all 50 states have made a financial investment in AFP or AFP Foundation. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org