California Gov. Gavin Newsom promised in May that he would take a 10% pay cut to help the state recover from coronavirus funding shortages. That didn’t happen.
The Democrat failed to take his 10% pay cut, as promised, according to a report from the Sacramento Bee , which he had vowed to take as he ordered state employees to do the same to help the state financially recover from revenue shortfalls that precipitated out of the coronavirus pandemic.
The report revealed that Newsom continued to accept his full monthly paycheck of $17,479 throughout the pandemic. A spokesman for Newsom blamed an “administrative error” when asked about the situation.
“The Governor publicly committed to taking the same pay cut as other state workers when he introduced his budget in May and has officially asked the Controller to adjust his pay, effective July 1,” the spokesman said. “The reductions for both July and August will be deduced for the next pay period.”
Elected officials in California are exempt from pay cuts, meaning that each of them must volunteer to take a pay cut. Data provided to the outlet showed State Controller Betty Yee was the only one of eight elected constitutional officials to take a pay cut in the month of July.
