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Posted: Saturday, November 21st, 2009 8:40 AM HST

Hawaii Legislature announces budget cuts

By 67AM KPUA News

HONOLULU (AP) — The Hawaii House of Representatives will pay lower salaries to its staff beginning in January, but state Senate staff will keep their current pay. Both legislative chambers plan to reduce costs by 14 percent of payroll. All permanent, full-time House personnel will suffer a 5 percent pay reduction. Temporary staff hired during the Legislature's session will see a 15 percent salary cut. The Senate was able to avoid cutting pay by reducing the number of temporary staff and realizing savings from reduced paper use. The session runs from January into May. In all, the 51-member House's operating budget will be cut by 9 percent, or more than $1 million. The 25-member Senate's savings amount to about $650,000. (Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved)