Washington  - California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Thursday eliminated 22,000 part-time and temporary government jobs to save cash as the state faces a multi-billion-dollar deficit.

He also ordered that 200,000 state workers receive the federal minimum wage until the 2008-2009 state budget is approved.

"Today I am exercising my executive authority to avoid a full- blown crisis and keep our state moving forward," Schwarzenegger said.

San Francisco  - California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is planning a ruthless pay cut for over 200,000 state employees in a bid to solve the state budget crisis, according to reports Thursday.

The former action movie star wants to slash workers' pay to the federal minimum wage level of just 6.55 dollars an hour until lawmakers resolve a budget impasse that is threatening to leave the state without the basic funds it needs to keep operating. The workers would be entitled to recover the difference between their salaries and the minimum wage once the state enacts a budget.

San Francisco  -

San Francisco  - California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed a statewide drought Wednesday after two years of below average rain and snow falls has left California's water reserves at dang

San Francisco  - Cal