By Associated Press
Oklahoma City, OK – Okla. House cuts 16 legislative assistant jobs
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma House officials say 16 more jobs have been eliminated to cope with a budget deficit.
House Speaker-designate Kris Steele said Friday 12 full-time legislative assistants and four part-time positions were cut. Officials didn't identify the workers but a spokesman says the part-time positions were vacant.
Eleven members of the House's staff were fired last week, including members of Steele's staff and other House divisions.
Steele says the cuts were not easy and were not made lightly. But he says they will help eliminate the chamber's budget deficit.
He says the House must lead by example and cannot ask state agencies to cut their budgets while exempting itself from the same tough decisions.
Steele says Friday's job cuts complete his review of the House's staff.