Government Digest: Aug. 13 - Aug. 19

Senate staff shake-up via budget cuts
TALLAHASSEE — Five key Florida Senate staff members have been let go by incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, and more paring down is expected as the state faces a $6 billion budget shortfall next year.
Among the group let go so far are Ray Wilson, staff director of the Senate Governmental Oversight and Productivity Committee, who has been with the state 39 years, and General Counsel Jay Vail, a 29-year state employee, but who only moved to the Senate in 2007.
Also axed were Joe McVaney, chief attorney for the Senate Ways and Means Committee, a 22-year employee for the House and Senate, and Bob McKee, staff director of the Finance and Taxation Committee. McKee joined the Senate staff last year after working eight years at the Department of Revenue. Curtis Unruh, the information technology director for the Senate, is a 24-year state employee, who has been with the Senate since early 2008. The five salaries ranged from $99,876 to $130,092 a year.