State Senator Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) today testified before the Citizens Compensation Commission hearing in Los Angeles, which voted to reduce legislators’ salaries by eighteen percent.
As part of his ongoing commitment to fiscal responsibility, Senator Maldonado immediately sent a letter to State Controller John Chiang asking that he be paid the new salary effective June 1, 2009.
“Of all the cuts that are being discussed right now, one part of government remains immune—the Legislature. I have always said that this economic crisis is about shared pain and shared sacrifice. That is why I came to Los Angeles today to testify before the commission,” Maldonado stated immediately following the hearing.
Prepared Text of Senator Maldonado’s Testimony Before the Citizens Compensation Commission
Chairman Murray and Members:
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to testify before the commission this morning.
Last year, I came before you and urged you not to approve a salary increase for legislators and constitutional officers. At that time, we were already in the shadow of the looming economic crisis. We had made cuts to education and health care. And we knew things were only getting worse.
Much has changed in the past twelve months. Our state has experienced the full brunt of the economic tailspin. It has crippled our state’s already broken budget system. To put it into perspective, 149 days after we passed our current budget, we revised it to stave off impending bankruptcy. Now, 90 days later, we’re on the verge again.
And yesterday, the people of this state made it very clear—legislators and constitutional officers are not immune to this fiscal crisis. They overwhelmingly passed Proposition 1F. They said, “Enough is enough!”
Later today, I will head back to Sacramento to start the difficult task of cutting billions of dollars from government. But what one area of government is not included in the cut list? The Legislature!
Needless to say, legislative leaders in Sacramento are well aware of the fiscal crisis in which we find our state. Both Assembly Speaker Bass and Senate Pro Tem Steinberg have been cutting office budgets, instituting hiring freezes and implementing other cost savings measures. They should be applauded for their efforts.
But control over our salaries falls to you—the members of the Citizens Compensation Commission. I believe that it is only fair that we, the elected officials, share in the pains and sacrifices of the rest of this state. And your vote today could make that a reality.
Five thousand state workers are receiving pink slips. Thousands of teachers, our children’s heroes, will be out of jobs. The elderly and disabled are going to struggle as cuts will force them to do more with less. And while Speaker Bass and Pro Tem Steinberg are to be commended for their cost-savings efforts, you can take their actions a step further.
Yesterday, the people made their wishes known—tax dollars should be spent on the people, not the politicians. I hope you reinforce that message here today. No one in Sacramento got elected for the paycheck. We all came here to help the people of California. Right now, in this economic crisis, the best way we can help them is to ensure that their tax dollars go back to them.
Will a pay cut be painful? Yes. But measured against the painful cuts we will force onto the people of California, this is a small sacrifice we all should make.
I would like to end by applauding Chairman Murray and his efforts. He has spearheaded this campaign to bring accountability to our paychecks.
Thank you very much for allowing me the opportunity to testify and I strongly support Chairman Murray’s efforts to implement a pay cut for the Legislature and constitutional officers.
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