SACRAMENTO - Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) took his fight to control spending before the Assembly Appropriations Committee today when he presented arguments supporting his bill to freeze salaries for state employees earning over $150,000 per year.

“As the elected leaders of California we have a responsibility to our constituents to show we understand the difficulties they face and are willing to reign in spending to ensure their tax dollars are spent in a responsible manner,” stated Portantino.

AB 1764 seeks to implement a two year salary freeze on the state’s highest earners, saving the state millions of dollars if implemented across all state departments and agencies. The bill will allow the Governor to make exemptions for certain safety employees and employees covered by collective bargaining agreements.

Assemblymember Portantino went on to explain, “California faces a $20 billion budget shortfall, a figure that reflects budget shortages from 2009 through 2011. Freezing the salaries of the state’s highest paid employees is a fiscally responsible way to preserve money for social programs and education and to help ease California’s budget deficit.”

This is the sixth time Assemblymember Portantino has introduced this legislation. Last year’s Assembly Appropriations analysis estimated the bill could save $17 million over the two-year life of the bill.

“Ultimately, the bottom line is that this bill saves money, is fiscally responsible and is the right thing to do in an economy that will force drastic cuts in the upcoming state budget. It sends the message to Californians that “we get it”.