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While thousands of state employees prepare for a pay cut many private companies hired by the state will receive raises.

The companies negotiated raises into their contracts, but State Senator Al Lawson says it�s still not fair to give them more when state workers will receive less. Lawson is asking the governor to veto a two percent pay cut for state workers making 45,000 or more.

�I�m trying to emphasis to the governor that we have dollars in reserve that we can make up the difference. Whether he�ll have the courage to do it is another story. We didn�t have the courage in the legislature to do it. We do not need to balance the budget on the backs of the people,� said Lawson.

The full state legislature will vote on the final budget proposal Friday. The chambers have to vote the bill up or down and aren�t allowed to make changes. The governor has the power to veto spending and reduction items in the budget he doesn�t agree with.