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A judge has blocked the governor’s order of three furloughs per month, the latest effort to conserve the state’s dwindling funds until a new budget is approved.

Alameda County Superior Court Judge Steven Brick said there are “serious questions” connected to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s order last month, and temporarily halted the move until a Sept. 13 hearing. The judge said the furloughs could create irreparable harm to the 156,000 state employees who would lose three paid workdays — or almost 15 percent of their salary — under the order, which would save the cash-strapped state $150 million per month.

This judge came to the incredible epiphany that, oh sheez, this is so complicated I’m sure most everyone will have a very difficult time understanding it. But, I will do my utmost best to word it in such a way that it makes some sense. Alameda County Superior Court Judge Steven Brick came to the conclusion that paying people to work less causes them to not make as much money as they would have. I kid you not, he figured it out. I’m sure he had help since it took him over a year to come that conclusion. But he got it.
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