By ANDREW DeMILLO
Associated Press
LITTLE ROCK (AP) - A legislative committee
has recommended keeping salaries flat for the state's elected officials,
stripping a proposed pay hike for judges and prosecutors from a budget
bill.
The Joint Budget Committee on Wednesday advanced
the proposed General Appropriation Act, which sets the funding level for
the executive, legislative and judicial branches of state government.
The legislation is the first budget bill that must be passed during the
session.
The $39 million bill would keep salaries flat for
the state's elected officials. The panel removed a provision that would
have increased salaries for prosecutors and judges - including the
state's Supreme Court justices and Appeals Court judges - by about 2%.
The measure now heads to the House.
The House and Senate convened Monday to start the 2013 legislative session.
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