Williams approved special raises for Senate staff

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Before leaving his post as Senate President, David Williams approved pay raises of between 2 percent and 14 percent for eight staff members of the state Senate.

The Courier-Journal reports the special pay raises went to his chief of staff and deputy chief of staff, as well as two other members of his Republican leadership staff, and to four staff members of minority Senate Democrats.

The pay increases came during a budget year that provided no increases to rank-and-file workers.

Williams said he approved the raises to keep good workers from taking other jobs and to make the workers' pay "commensurate" to staff working for the state House.

Kentucky Association of State Employees President David Smith said he feels the raises were unfair to other state workers.

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