Thats right folks. If the a state pay commission has its way the governor's salary and those of other state elected officials will get an 18 percent reduction starting next month, putting the pay for Los Angeles City councilmembers in a rarified air above that of the governor of 36 million people. The pay for City Council members was already higher than the paychecks of the lieutenant governor and all other state elected officials.

Of course, Arnold Schwarzenegger does not accept his salary, but you get the point: Council-playas be gettin' paid. You know? We're talking $178,789 a year, not to mention discretionary office funds, meeting and travel expenses and those city provided vehicles.

According to the Los Angeles Times, if the Citizens Compensation Committee's proposed cuts go into effect next month -- and Attorney General Jerry Brown has officially opined there's no reason they shouldn't -- the salary for the governor of the great state of California would be set at $171,648.

Some council leaders such as Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Councilman Dennis Zine volunteered to take less than their full salaries in the light of the city's budget crises, and most of the 15 councilmembers voted to cut 10 percent from their fun-money accounts - er, we mean office budgets -- which are set at $1.2 million per year.

Still, pay is relative. Despite appearances, this is one of the wealthiest cities in the world, and the cost-of-living is higher than Andy Dick on a bender. The mayor and the councilmembers need those Armani suits and Blahnik shoes so they can show up to meetings with local billionaires fully dressed to kiss ass ask them to support worthwhile projects.