$1.1 Million Busy Signal

Well, this is just a waste of money

The state Employment Development Department rang up another $1.1 million phone bill in February by playing a recorded message for jobless people who fail to reach operators at California's unemployment insurance call centers.

EDD pays Verizon 5 cents each time the message plays, even if a person hangs up and redials without listening to it.

Nobody likes these damn recorded messages anyways. Just give me a person and if you can't do that, give me a busy signal so I can try again. Better service at less expense.

Arnold says he's going to fix the problem.

"It is enough of a tragedy when you lose your job," Schwarzenegger told reporters on the lawn outside the Capitol. "The last thing you need is a recording when you call and you don't get the services provided."