Lawmakers kill plan to furlough state workers

Published 12:00 am Thursday, March 4, 2010

MONTGOMERY(AP) — The Alabama Legislature has officially killed a plan by the State Personnel Board that would have let state agencies temporarily furlough state employees to avoid layoffs.

The Alabama House voted 73-17 to override Gov. Bob Riley’s veto of a legislative resolution to stop the furlough plan. The Alabama Senate voted 20-11 on Tuesday to override the governor’s veto of the furlough plan that had been opposed by the Alabama State Employees Association.

House Majority Leader Ken Guin, D-Carbon Hill, said there was concern the furlough plan would lead to the state using more contract employees.

Republican Rep. Steve McMillan of Gulf Shores argued that state agencies now would have not option but to layoff workers.