Enough already, Lt. Gov. Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson County, says, it's time for Gov. Ed Rendell to stop using state workers as pawns and to start paying them."It is clear that the governor does not recognize that Pennsylvania families live paycheck to paycheck or he would follow the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and refrain from using payless paydays as a budgetary scare tactic," Scarnati said.

Rendell spokesman Chuck Ardo said the state constitution forbids the state from spending money that is not appropriated. "The Commonwealth Court decision last year found that the state constitution overrides the federal law" that requires timely payment for time worked, Ardo said. "We would like nothing better than to pay state workers, and that is exactly why we have been saying all along the budget should be done and done quickly."

Scarnati disagrees with the administration's interpretation that the state constitution trumps federal law. He claims it is an interpretation that Rendell is using to try to force Senate Republicans to give in to his demand for a tax increase to support a higher level of state spending.

"Quite frankly, I am shocked that the governor would place the livelihoods of over 77,000 state workers and their families in jeopardy to make a case for a massive tax increase," Scarnati said.

He added he was pleased the state Supreme Court has agreed to review the Commonwealth Court decision upon which the governor based his decision to force state employees to work even though they won't be paid until a new state budget is enacted. Scarnati is urging the court to schedule oral arguments and resolution of these issues as soon as possible.

Already, 1,000 court employees have experienced a payless payday. Last Friday, more than 33,000 state workers received a paycheck for 70 percent of the days worked in the previous pay period. This Friday, 44,000 state workers will receive paychecks for only 20 percent of the days worked in the previous pay period.