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.'"

Comments

Re:Need a bigger knife

[Anonymous Coward]

A quick analysys shows that 50% of those on the government dole is capably of holding down a job.

For instance, they can probably spell and use grammar better than you.

Re:Cool - a fiscal conservative

[h4rr4r]

Yeah, libertarians are big on making their problems someone else's. I think that is that "personal responsibility" thing they are always going on about.

Letting old folks starve, who you promised a retirement to after decades of labor also sounds like something those folks would go for.

Those libertarians sure are stand up guys.

Re:YRO?

[Korin43]

Didn't you hear? Everyone has the unalienable right to a government-paid cell phone now.

Re:Need a bigger knife

[Anonymous Coward]

Democrat much?

The only individual(s) responsible are direct family... Stop this BS!!!

Re:Need a bigger knife

[hldn]

For all the years I was working I paid a tax to go to the state government insuring that if I lose my job through no fault of my own that I would be able to collect some money until I found a replacement job.

are you getting more out than you paid in? where is that money coming from? someone else is paying for you to not work.

The state requires me to make 3 job contacts a week. I do about 5 a day so that's 25 M-F and not counting the about 10 or so I may do on a Saturday and Sunday.

you go in for 35 jobs a week and still don't have one after a year? you're obviously not trying to get a job, but just want collect your free money as long as you can.