California isn't the only state that suffers from legislative gridlock, others do it too, but California has a long and persistent history of running without a budget. In an effort to maintain fiscal responsibility, the Governator has responded that he will slash state employees pay to the federal minimum wage ($6.55) until a budget is passed, after which state employees will recover lost wages. As drafted, the order also calls for the state to immediately lay off 21,855 part-time workers, stop overtime payments for almost all employees and cease all hiring until a budget is enacted.

There are a number of well heeled politicians, among others, who have said that the federal minimum wage is too high and risks disastrous effects. Judging from the noise, there are no California state employees who agree. The LAT reports.