Pay raises, increased funding sought

<br>(Oklahoma City-AP) -- A state employees union is calling for pay raises and another group wants more money for education. <br><br>Buy Oklahoma lawmakers say they don't know if they'll be able

Monday, October 20th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- A state employees union is calling for pay raises and another group wants more money for education.

Buy Oklahoma lawmakers say they don't know if they'll be able to find the money.

The Oklahoma Public Employees Association says state employees haven't had a pay raise in three years and wants a seven percent increase. The Oklahoma Education Association is calling for an additional 416 (m) million dollars in state funding.

But lawmakers say money for pay raises and increase education funding will be hard to find.

Representative Bill Graves says tax collections are rising, but not be enough to -- quote -- ``start throwing money around.''