A pay raise for state workers? Not so much

For state employees who saw some hope in a Democrat-backed budget amendment calling for a 3-percent raise — no such luck.

Before withdrawing the amendment, Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee, urged his fellow lawmakers to find room for higher pay when the budget goes to conference committee with the Senate.

It’s not a surprise Williams would make this plea. His district in the capital city includes a massive number of state workers.

But what’s not a surprise is that he withdrew the amendment. He’d already done the same with two other budget amendments. And, Williams said, he knew the House wouldn’t put it in the appropriations bill.

“I know that we cannot move this amendment forward … We don’t have the proper vehicle to get this into the budget,” he said.