SACRAMENTO - Like many pols in the State Capitol, Tuesday's signing of a state budget was a signal to dog pile on the Golden State's new financial blue print - a document that no one on either side of the aisle likes very much -- State Controller John Chiang included.

In a press statement Chiang had this to say about the new budget:

"Today we adopted a $103.4 billion budget that was out-of-balance the moment it was signed.  This budget dooms those most harmed by the record-setting budget stalemate - students on financial aid, nursing homes, child care centers and other providers of critical public services - to relive the same nightmare next year.

That said, the controller that defied Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's direction to reduce the paychecks of all full-time state workers to minimum wage, said that he would move quickly to get state money into the hands of school and those social service programs and agencies that need it most.

"I am expediting payments to health care providers, schools and others harmed by this indefensible budget delay.  More than $3.6 billion in Medi-Cal payments will go out in the next 48 hours, and I will take every step necessary to get the remaining payments out as quickly as possible.

Chiang, considered by observers to be a rising star in Golden State Democratic politics, had one last kick to the shins of the governor and legislature on the protracted budget process.

"After having deferred responsible and difficult budget decisions for years through a combination of reckless borrowing and Enron-style accounting tricks, the governor and legislature must craft a budget plan that brings revenues and expenditures in line with the needs of Californians today, and those of future generations.