California guard alerted in case of pay walkouts

Gov. George Deukmejian has placed the California National Guard on standby and set up a 24-hour command post at the Office of Emergency Services. This is because California has no budget. The governor ordered standby measures in case state officials, including prison workers, walk off their jobs because they do not know whether they will be paid.

The deadline for approving the budget was June 30, but the Legislature is still haggling over its provisions, with no sign of agreement. And until a budget is passed, or emergency financial legislation is approved, there will be few state checks. (Related story, Page 12)