The horror: Jerry Brown to disconnect 48,000 cell phones given to state workers

In a desperate cost-cutting move, California Governor Jerry Brown is disconnecting 48,000 cell phones used by state employees.

jerry-brown-cell-phone

In a desperate cost-cutting move, California Governor Jerry Brown is disconnecting 48,000 cell phones used by state employees.

He’s cutting off Californians’ cell phones? Why this is outrageous. It’s a violation of their civil rights. Next thing you know, he’ll cut off their no caf, non-fat, extra shot, double lattes.

jerry-brown-cell-phone
There's one state-issued cell phone Jerry Brown won't cut off

The Los Angeles Times has the cell phone specifics:

Alarmed at discovering that the state pays for 96,000 cellphones, Gov. Jerry Brown issued an executive order Tuesday seeking to cut in half the number of devices being billed to taxpayers.

Requiring 48,000 cellphones to be turned in by June 1 will save the state about $20 million a year.

“It is difficult for me to believe that 40% of all state employees must be equipped with taxpayer-funded cellphones,” Brown said. “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 cellphones, but the current number of phones out there is astounding.”

The new governor is looking for ways to cut waste to help him dig the state out of a $25-billion budget hole, which has also required him to propose asking voters to extend some existing taxes.

While we applaud Governor Moonbeam for taking this step, we really have to wonder if the remaining 48,000 state-issued cell phones are really necessary. Can’t the state employees use their own cell phones? And do you really expect anyone to believe that they don’t use those state-issued cell phones for personal calls?

One other thing, Governor Brown. Have you heard about this Safelink free cell phone program? The state’s broke, so it would probably qualify to get those 48,000 cell phones for free.

Source: LA Times

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