Sharon Vescera of Oakland and other state employees gathered in front of the Downtown federal building don't understand why the Department of Labor needs to investigate the state's refusal to pay them.

"It's obvious the law is being broken, but nothing is being done," she said.

About 30 state workers walked up Liberty Avenue to file complaints under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. They're among the 33,000 employees statewide who didn't get paid Friday because the General Assembly and the governor haven't passed a budget a month past the June 30 deadline.

An irony for many of the state employees is that they work for the Department of Public Welfare, so they're helping people without jobs get money while they're not being paid for their work. They're irritated that state lawmakers found money to pay their staff members, and get $158 each day for food and lodging.

Vescera doesn't think Senate Republicans or Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell, who are at odds over the budget, understand or care about the grief they're causing state workers.

"No, I think they're too busy bickering with each other and wanting things their own way," she said.

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