The governor is ordering massive state worker furloughs plus layoffs to deal with the budget crisis, according to this Sacramento Bee story.

The actions amount to two days off a month and a 10 percent pay cut. They affect all general fund and special fund employees.

Any state workers out there have a reaction to the news? Are you getting more details about how this affects you and services generally?

Congressman Kevin McCarthy has racked up more kudos.

He’s been named House “Rookie of the Year” by readers of Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper, and Congress.org.

It wasn’t even close: McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, got 37.4 percent of the vote.

This is how the rest of the top House “rookies” fared:

• Rep. Paul Hodes, D-N.H.: 15.4 percent

• Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Pa.: 9.6 percent

• Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. 8.1 percent

• Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Pa.: 7.9 percent

• Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz.: 7.7 percent

• Other: 13.9 percent

Roll Call made the nominations for this and other awards while voting was done by readers. There were 5,664 votes cast, the publication said.

Other awards given included most valuable player, fireman of the Congress (meaning best legislative save), lifetime achievement and squeaky wheel.

McCarthy was recently named chief deputy whip of House Republicans, the third highest leadership post in his House caucus. He was chair of the GOP convention platform writing committee and last year was profiled by the Weekly Standard as one of three “Young Guns of the House GOP.”

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One of our photographers shot this photo of Mayor Harvey Hall Thursday and there was great debate in our afternoon news meeting about the pants.

One said he looked "natty" (trim and smart, according to Simon & Schuster). Another said his pants looked like pajama bottoms. "Hideous," another chimed in.

What say you?

No, Elliott Spitzer won't be opining on love and relationships — something he's totally unqualified for after his sex scandal.

He will write about the country's economic woes for Slate's online magazine. Several media outlets have the story.

This video is really funny. It's a parody of Proposition 8 and its supporters by a slew of Hollywood stars including Jack Black (as Jesus), John C. Reilly, Neil Patrick Harris and Allison Janney.

How many stars would you give it?

Politico has a good story up on Kevin McCarthy's rise to chief deputy whip of House Republicans, the third highest GOP post in that body.

It calls him and new Whip Eric Cantor "a younger, more aggressive branch of the GOP," lays out what they intend to do and outlines their potential roadblocks.

Politico calls McCarhy "a savvy, equally energetic political operative."

And in case you missed it, here's the story we had in Monday's paper about McCarthy's new job.

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A political blogger asks whether Nicole Parra is the next Nicole Hilton. She spends and parties. Parties and spends. There's a sense of outrage.

Parra is described as a "very attractive duck," an "extremely attractive Latina," and "stunning."

Just the type of reporting to add a sense of credibility to the post.

When I was about 14 there were a few girls I really fancied. But I didn't actually like any of them.

Read the blog post here.