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Chiang Comments on Superior Court Ruling Upholding Governor's Furlough Order

SACRAMENTO – State Controller John Chiang issued the following statement regarding today’s Superior Court ruling requiring him to implement the Governor’s executive order to furlough state employees:

“As Controller, my first responsibility is always to protect the fiscal health of the State of California.  I made it clear that I would act only upon a court’s order to avoid exposing the State to additional fines, penalties or other damages should the Governor’s order be found unlawful. 

“Today, the court has directed me to implement the Governor’s order affecting state employee pay, and I will immediately move to do so.  However painful, this pay cut for state employees alone will not solve the State’s budget deficit, nor will it allow me to avoid delaying more than $3 billion in tax refunds, college assistance and payments to programs that protect our most vulnerable and needy citizens.  I urge the Governor and Legislature to work quickly to solve the State’s $42 billion budget deficit and provide sufficient cash to get the State through the next few months.”

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