Old Technology Foils Schwarzenegger's Wage Order
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCBS/AP) Governor Schwarzenegger's attempt to impose the federal minimum wage on state workers is being foiled by out-of-date technology.
A state appellate court on Friday sided with the governor in his attempt to force 200,000 state workers to be paid $7.25 an hour while California's budget impasse drags on.
But state Controller John Chiang said it would take months to comply because the changeover is too complex for the state's computerized payroll system.
The system was designed more than 60 years ago and was last revamped in 1970.
Meanwhile, Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, in a joint statement with Assembly Speaker John Perez, outlined some of the problems Democrats have with the governor's budget proposal.
"We protect public safety by rejecting the governor's proposal to shift nearly $4 billion in costs to cities and counties," said Steinberg. "They will then be able to avoid firing the cops and firefighters to keep us safe. We reject the idea that the poor, sick and elderly Californians should have to bear the brunt of our budget deficit."
Steinberg and Perez said their budget will create new jobs and get the economy moving.
