Assembly to Cut 29 Workers in Effort to Boost Efficiency

The state Assembly Rules Committee on Friday approved a streamlining of some of the lower house’s internal functions that Republicans said would improve efficiency, but Democrats said would do little.

The plan will cut 29 employees from the Assembly’s telephone, facilities, car, fiscal, warehouse, copying, mail, supplies and television offices. The plan calls for consolidating some functions, hiring outside firms to do others such as copying, and using temporary workers for others such as televising sessions.

The cuts will save $1.08 million in salaries and benefits, the committee staff said. But there will be one-time costs of about $900,000 in severance pay and construction and ongoing costs of $397,000 for temporary workers and outside contracts.

Assembly Speaker Curt Pringle (R-Garden Grove) said the plan, suggested by an audit commissioned by majority Republicans this year, would make the Assembly’s internal operations more efficient.

“On top of everything else, this is a business, a $76-million operation, and we want to make sure the dollars are spent efficiently,” he said.

“A lot of it is much ado about nothing,” said Assemblyman Kevin Murray (D-Los Angeles). “Will we save some money? Yes. Will we save as much money as they say? No.”