Tens of thousands of state workers have endured their last furlough day — assuming an Alameda Superior Court judge's Wednesday ruling survives yet another challenge by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Judge Frank Roesch decided Wednesday that the governor can't delay ending furloughs for about one-third of the government work force, but spared the state from immediately issuing hundreds of millions of dollars in back pay while Schwarzenegger takes the fight to San Francisco's 1st District Court of Appeal.
The next scheduled "Furlough Friday" for state workers is April 2.
Asked for a response to the news during a Capitol event Wednesday, the governor signaled that he won't yield.
"The bottom line is we're going to keep the furloughs in place until the end of this year, and we will not make any exemptions," Schwarzenegger said.
Administration spokeswoman Rachel Arrezola was more explicit: "We will file (a request) with the 1st District court to allow furloughs to remain in effect as we appeal this ruling."
In another furlough-related matter, Schwarzenegger – as expected – vetoed legislation Wednesday evening that would have exempted from furloughs any state employees in jobs funded with 5 percent or less general fund cash.
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