California budget crisis

Newly-installed California Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of fiscal emergency on Thursday, underscoring the need for quick legislative action on the state's massive budget deficit. Without corrective action, he said, California's combined deficit for this year and the next will be $25.4 billion.

California state workers, feeling expendable, plan to use their mandated "furlough Friday" to protest at theaters across the state showing The Expendables, an action flick with an all-star cast including a cameo by their boss, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Faced with a $19.1 billion deficit and no hope for digging out, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday declared a fiscal emergency. Under the rules of the emergency, Schwarzenegger ordered three furlough days per month for all but essential state employees. State offices will be closed three Fridays a month.