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Whitman Reduces Proposed Government Job Cuts To 33,000

SACRAMENTO (AP) -- A shrinking state work force has prompted Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman to revise the number of state government positions she wants to eliminate.

The former chief executive of eBay has said for a year that she wants to eliminate 40,000 state jobs, returning the work force to its level in the 2004-05 fiscal year. This week, she said that number is now 33,000, reflecting downsizing under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Whitman is relying on information in Schwarzenegger's revised 2010-2011 budget, which shows roughly 7,000 fewer employees on the state payroll than the year before.

She told reporters in Bakersfield about the revision on Thursday. She has said the reduction could be achieved mostly through attrition.

Unions have targeted Whitman's proposal in campaign mailers featuring photographs of firefighters and nurses.

(© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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