SACRAMENTO - As a special welcome gift to the more than two dozen new state lawmakers sworn in to office on Monday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a fiscal emergency which will allow him to invoke an unusual Prop. 58 special session of the California Legislature.

With the new paint in many Capitol offices still drying, Schwarzenegger said he made use of the powers granted him under the 2004 ballot measure. Under Prop. 58 the governor can declare a fiscal emergency which then starts a 45-day clock for state lawmakers to present to him a balanced budget. If, after 45 days, he receives no such plan, the governor can require the legislature to remain in session until it provides such a spending plan.

Schwarzenegger also prompted a run on legislative office aspirin bottles by calling a second legislative special session to address the state's economy on Monday. The Governor reiterated his call for a combination of difficult spending cuts and new revenues to solve the state's currently revenue $11.2 billion shortfall as well as called for lawmakers to enact plans previously outlined by the Governor to stimulate job creation, address the mortgage crisis and fix the state's Unemployment Insurance Fund.   

"Without immediate action our state is headed for a fiscal disaster and that is why with more than two dozen new legislators sworn in today - I am wasting no time in calling a fiscal emergency special session," Schwarzenegger said in a statement.

"We must act now to address the current year revenue shortfall of $11.2 billion and we must implement an economic stimulus package to help retain and create jobs, keep Californians in their homes and fix the state's Unemployment Insurance Fund.  I look forward to working with the legislature in attacking these problems head on, making the difficult choices and working together for the common good and future of the state of California," he added. 

To view the proclamations the governor signed Monday, go to: http://gov.ca.gov/.