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Jerry Brown Confiscates 48,000 Cell Phones

Hugh Pickens writes "The Sacramento Bee reports that California Governor Jerry Brown, in his first executive order since taking office, has ordered the collection and return of 48,000 state government-paid cell phones — half of those now in use — by June 1. 'It is difficult for me to believe that 40 percent of all state employees must be equipped with taxpayer-funded cell phones,' says Brown in a written statement. 'Some state employees, including department and agency executives who are required to be in touch 24 hours a day and seven days a week, may need cell phones, but the current number of phones out there is astounding.' Brown's cell phone order directs state agency and department heads to retrieve the cell phones and the governor says he plans to continue reducing cell phone usage in months ahead. 'In the face of a multi-billion dollar budget deficit, a cell phone may not seem like a big expense,' adds Brown. 'But spending $20 million, and perhaps far more than that, on cell phones can't be justified.'"

7 of 738 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Cool - a fiscal conservative by corbettw · · Score: 4, Informative

    who has had trouble in mainstream politics due to being honest and uncompromising

    That would certainly explain his previous two terms as governor, plus his term as State Attorney General, plus his time as Mayor of Oakland. Yep, just a perennial loser in politics.

    --
    God invented whiskey so the Irish would not rule the world.
  2. Re:So what about... by HuckleCom · · Score: 4, Informative

    48,000 * 70 = 3,360,000 (3.36mil/mo).
    3,360,000 * 12 = 40,320,000, or $40.3mil/yr.

    Or average the two (20,70) you get 45...

    48,000 * 45 = 2,160,000 (2.1mil/mo).
    2,160,000 * 12 = 25,920,000, or 25.9mil/yr.

    So it's 0.2% of the deficit, or .04% of the budget.

  3. Re:YRO? by erroneus · · Score: 4, Informative

    You think for even a moment that a huge customer like the state of california would have to deal with cancellation charges? I have dealt with groups as small as 50 users and was able to leverage better terms and conditions than that before. The utterly massive sway that such volume could command would keep me in free lunch and phone service for a very long time while being immune to such consumer abuses as cancellation charges and the like.

  4. Re:YRO? by CrimsonAvenger · · Score: 4, Informative

    Indeed, I have a personal interest in good governments. I remember reading news about how California was going bankrupt, and how Schwarzenegger was planning severe all kind of budget cuts to education and other welfare. Now I read this and I wonder: why didn't he confiscated all these phones before doing that?

    Probably because he was looking at a $25 Billion shortfall, and figured the $20 Million savings weren't worth wasting much time on.

    After all, when you suddenly realize that you've no money to pay the rent on your apartment, "Damn, I shouldn't have bought that soda this morning!" is probably the last thing you'll be thinking...

    --

    "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
  5. Re:He is not taking privately held phones by careysub · · Score: 5, Informative

    ... the Feds could eliminate every single program other than Social Security and defense spending and STILL be over budget...

    Let's see: 2010 revenues $2,217 billion; Defense spending $663.7 billion; Social Security $677.95 billion.

    $663.7 billion + $677.95 billion = $ 1341.6 billion < $2,217 billion

    Is it to much to to ask to run one Google query and do one addition problem before bloviating about the federal budget so that it is not nonsense?

    --
    Starships were meant to fly, Hands up and touch the sky - Nicky Minaj
  6. Re:YRO? by jgagnon · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here's the law from California that says they must (section 2802): http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=lab&group=02001-03000&file=2800-2810

    I'm sure MANY other states have similar laws, though I'm not exactly willing at this moment to spend the time to provide you with a full list. :p

    --
    Remember to maintain your supply of /facepalm oil to prevent chafing.
  7. Re:He is not taking privately held phones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    Don't forget interest on debt.

    Also, does that Defense number include the "emergency" appropriations for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.