Alabama Governor Vows to Reduce State Holidays

Alabama Republican Gov. Robert Bentley said state workers have too many paid holidays, the Opelika-Auburn News reported Wednesday. The governor said his staff worked a full schedule on Presidents Day, a state holiday, and that he would like to see fewer paid holidays for the state’s public employees.

Bentley made his remarks at a Saturday meeting of the Alabama Republican Party Executive Committee.

Bentley said he planned on working to reduce the 13 paid holidays now given to the state’s public employees.

State Rep. James Barton, a Mobile Republican, said federal employees receive 10 paid holidays, and that the state should consider reducing its paid time off as way to avoid layoffs.

"We are absolutely moving in that direction," Barton told the newspaper. "We're trying to save money and as many jobs as possible."

Most workers would choose to have fewer holidays as opposed to being laid off, Barton said.

Barton didn’t indicate which holidays should be eliminated.