State Legislators Won't Get Paid

The people of Benicia voted overwhelmingly for  Proposition 25 in the last election — 67 percent voted in favor while statewide slightly more than 55 percent of voters supported the measure. 

Proposition 25 changes the two-thirds requirement to pass a budget to a simple majority and requires legislators to forfeit their pay should the budget not be passed on time.  

Many who opposed Proposition 25 said the requirement to pass a budget or risk losing their pay really was just an empty threat. The thinking at the time was that the measure failed to require a balanced budget as required by the state constitution so the Legislature could pass any budget before the June 15 deadline and wouldn't lose any pay.

This position was reiterated in an article in the Los Angeles Times: "The language … said the budget bill must be passed," said Greg Schmidt, the Senate's chief administrative officer. "Technically, the budget bill was passed on March 17."

California Controller John Chiang doesn't agree. The Sacramento Bee reported that  he blocked pay for lawmakers. According to Chiang, the budget passed by lawmakers last week was not balanced and so didn't fulfill the requirements of Proposition 25, passed by voters in November.