Legislative staffer Bill Bird works for Republican Senator Sam Aanestad.  He’s been working in the Capitol for nine years now and knows what to expect…

 “If you’re going to work here you plan ahead. You save, because these types of things are going to happen…”

Bird signed up for his bank’s service that offers state workers zero interest loans during these times.  He took advantage of that after 2002 when he went more than two months without a paycheck.  Freshman Democratic Assemblyman Kevin DeLeon is in the same boat—but has yet to prepare.

 “I’m going to have to obviously because I have to pay rent in Sacramento I have to pay a mortgage.”

The State Controller’s office says about five hundred people will go without a paycheck until a budget is passed—including state elected officials and appointed staff.  Other state workers will be paid.