Governor Schwarzenegger is already taking a lot of heat for his decision to cut wages, and lay off thousands until California has a working budget. Now, some believe the order may cut pay for the men and women who put their lives on the line for public safety.

Late this afternoon Eyewitness News received a news release from the office of Senator Dean Florez saying the state's chief financial officer says Highway Patrol Officers and correctional officers that don't do overtime could also have their pay cut to minimum wage. We called the Governor's office Monday evening and asked if he has gone back on his word, initially exempting public safety workers like officers. The Governor's press secretary told me nothing has changed, and that public safety workers will still receive their full pay plus overtime. But at a hearing today the issue of everyone's wage cut was brought into question.

Last Thursday, the Governor signed an executive order cutting state employee pay to the federal minimum wage effective August 1st, claiming that without a new budget, the state won't be able to borrow money to pay its bills. Members of the the Senate Governmental Organization Committee, including Committee Chairman Dean Florez, held an informational hearing Monday on the legality of the executive order. During the hearing State Controller John Chaing said the state constitution won't allow him to stop paying state employees their full pay as long as the state has money to cover the checks, saying "Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, we have to pay the correct amount of funds. If we do not pay the correct amount of people's entitled payroll, we are subject to damages under federal law."

But several of the state's part time employee's have already been hit hard, fired Thursday after the order was signed. Last week we went to a local office of the Department of Motor Vehicles just as part-time employees were being notified their hours were being cut. Employee's told us less people means the work load is likely to increase. The DMV has been locking it's doors at 3-pm so the staff can handle all the customers by five o'clock, because the Governor's order also denies overtime. Eyewitness News met one man who says he was turned away last week, so he made an appointment something many people say they'll start doing in light of the cuts.

At Monday's hearing in Sacramento, Fred Klass, from the Department of Finance, testified on behalf of the Governor. He told the Committee the state has no legal basis for paying its employees more than the federal minimum wage. Klass says if there is no budget resolution before the state's next payday it's likely the conflict between the Governor and Controller will go to court. In fact the Governor's office told Eyewitness News Monday evening that they will probably file suit later this week.

We will of course let you know what happens.