Wayne Hammon, Gov. Butch Otter's budget chief, said called Rep. Steve Hartgen's introduction of legislation today to try to override JFAC and give state workers either 2 percent merit raises or zero raises next year "kind of a unique situation." Hammon, speaking in the JFAC hearing room just after the joint budget committee adjourned today, said, "I've only been doing this for five years, but typically those decisions have been made in this committee." Otter recommended 3 percent one-time raises for state employees next year. Asked about Hartgen's contention that some in the House GOP caucus want to redirect money from raises to tax cuts and refilling reserves, Hammon said, "The governor believes there's room in the budget for all three."

Otter already has introduced legislation for $35.7 million in corporate and individual income tax cuts for top earners; he's co-sponsoring the bill with House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star. "That is a high priority," Hammon said.

---

---