Sure, 46,000 state workers were told to stay home without pay.

Union officials said state workers were generally happy to leave.

At one point, two women visited her, saying they were state social workers sent by the hospital director.

And they show every sign of expecting state workers to help pay the price.

Nearly 600 other state workers were laid off in December.

Yet such turmoil is not likely to worry state workers too much.

The budget could force the layoffs of 2,000 to 3,000 state workers.

As a result, about half the 43,000 state workers got raises on that date.

Firefighters and other state workers who have not been paid joined in.

In all, 2,000 state workers are to be laid off by the end of the fiscal year on March 31.