The top 16 secretaries in Gov. Jim Doyle's cabinet will not receive their 2 percent pay increases originally slated to occur in June 2009.
In a memo specifically targeted toward the aides, Doyle's Administration Secretary, Michael Morgan, said the aides would be forced to sacrifice their raises because of the harsh economic crisis currently affecting the nation.
As leaders of this administration, we need to send a message to the working families in our state who have been hit by the national economic recession,"" Morgan said in the memo.
Carla Vigue, spokesperson for Doyle, emphasized that with such a poor economy, the governor wants to lead the state to recovery through example.
""The mentality is that they're taking one for the team,"" Vigue said of Doyle's decision.
Linda Barth, a Department of Administration spokesperson, said in the Wisconsin State Journal that a 1 percent increase occurred for all state workers in July 2008, including all of Doyle's aides.
According to the WSJ, the state of Wisconsin is expected to experience numerous job losses and budget deficit through June 2011 despite federal aid from the economic recovery bill.
- Caitlin Gath
