By AP/KWMU
Springfield, Ill. – Six of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's 91 staffers got pay raises on July First.
That was the same week during which the governor signed a budget into law that made deep cuts to several other state agencies.
Secretary of State Jesse White and Republican Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka say the cuts may force them to lay off employees. Topinka says the pay raises make "absolutely no sense."
The raises range from $1,000 to $10,000. Blagojevich spokesman Lon Monk says the six staffers received raises because they passed a probationary period.
Monk says the staffers had received a lower rate of pay while their work was under evaluation.