From AP:
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) _ The California Supreme Court has upheld Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's order to furlough state workers, dealing a major victory to part of the governor's budgeting plans.
The court issued its unanimous ruling Monday. It concluded that the state Legislature's 2009 budget legislation ``validated the governor's furlough program.''
State employee unions have been challenging Schwarzenegger's order ever since he implemented two-day-a-month furloughs for more than 200,000 state workers in February 2009. He later expanded it to three days a month, which has translated to a pay cut of roughly 14 percent for government employees.
Schwarzenegger said the move was intended to save money as California faced a severe budget crisis, but his order prompted the filings of more than two dozen lawsuits.
KQED's John Myers is tweeting this about the deal:
"CA Supreme Ct furlough ruling says '09 cabudget deal "validated" furloughs that otherwise were dubious. So maybe no future precedent?"
Related:
- Read the Court's full decision here.
- How the court writes its rulings (The State Worker, Sac Bee)