Cuts possibly coming to state agencies in move that would free up millions
THUNDERSTORMS, BUT GENERALLY
LOOKS PRETTY GOOD.
ELIZABETH, THANKS. SOME BIG
CUTS COULD BE ON THE WAY TO
STATE GOVERNMENT. STATE.
HOUSE LAWMAKERS WANT TO CUT
TWENTY-PERCENT OF VACANT
POSITIONS IN EVERY AGENCY.
>> AND USE THAT MONEY TO RAISE
THE PAY OF PEOPLE WHO WORK IN
THOSE AGENCIES. WRAL, CAPITOL
BUREAU CHIEF LAURA LESLIE IS
LIVE AT THE STATE LEGISLATIVE
BUILDING WHERE REPUBLICAN
LEADERS ANNOUNCED THAT PROPOSAL
THIS MORNING LONG.
>> YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT SOUND A
LITTLE LIKE DO IS WRITE ELON
MUSK'S ATTEMPT TO REDUCE THE
FEDERAL PAYROLL ACROSS THE
BOARD CUTS. BUT LAWMAKERS HERE
SAY IT'S JUST RIGHT SIZING AND
THEY SAY IT WOULD FREE UP
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO HELP
AGENCIES PAY THEIR OTHER
POSITIONS BETTER. HOUSE
REPUBLICAN LEADERS ARE SAYING
THEY WANT TO TAKE ONE OUT OF
EVERY 5 OPEN POSITIONS IN STATE
GOVERNMENT. REMOVE THAT FROM
THE PAYROLL AND GIVE THE MONEY
BACK TO THAT AGENCY TO USE FOR
RAISES FOR OTHER EMPLOYEES OF
THE TOTAL CUT HERE WOULD BE
AROUND 3,000 JOBS. THEY SAY
WILLAMETTE SAID THESE WOULD BE
POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN VACANT
FOR A LONG TIME. AND AGENCIES
HAVE ALREADY FIGURED OUT HOW TO
WORK AROUND THEM. AGENCY
LEADERS WOULD CHOOSE WHICH
VACANT POSITIONS THE CUT.
THEY ALL SAID THE U.S. WE NEED
MORE DISCRETIONARY MONEY.
>> SO THAT WE CAN FEEL HARD
FIELD PHYSICIANS. AND SO THIS
WAS REALLY JUST A SHIFT, TAKING
IT OUT OF MONEY THAT WASN'T
BEING USED WITH THE VACANCIES.
AND WE LOOKED AT A LOT OF THESE
VACANCIES AND WIN IN 2 YEARS.
>> STATE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
DIRECTOR ARTIST WATKINS ACCUSED
LAWMAKERS OF FAILING TO ADDRESS
WHAT SHE CALLED A VACANCY
CRISIS IN STATE GOVERNMENT.
SHE CALLED THE PROPOSAL A
BIZARRE MOVE THAT SHE SAID IS
INTENDED TO JUSTIFY FURTHER
TAX CUTS, ROBBING PETER TO PAY.
PAUL IS THE OPPOSITE OF
EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT. WATKINS
SAID IF YOU ARE STATE POSITIONS
MEANS FEWER AND SLOWER SERVICES
FOR THE PUBLIC. HOUSE LAWMAKERS
ARE MOVING THE BILL THROUGH
COMMITTEE TODAY THAT WHERE
THEY'RE MAKING AMENDMENTS TO IT
TO MAKE SOME CHANGES. IT'S
EXPECTED TO BE ON THE HOUSE
FLOOR FOR A VOTE AS SOON AS