"Do not allow these people to demoralize you and make you think you're not important.  Because you are!"

So said State Sen. Linda Lopez at a rally in support of state employees March 4 at the Capitol.   Sen. Ken Cheuvront and Sen. Rebecca Rios also encouraged state employees to speak out and let Gov. Jan Brewer and legislative leaders know exactly how they feel about a proposed 5 percent pay cut.

"If you made your voices heard ... imagine the difference you could make (in the legislature)," said Sen. Lopez.  "Enough is enough!" said Sen. Rios to the crowd.  "You and your families cannot sustain a pay cut and you need to be treated with dignity and respect!"

A bill authored by Sen. Cheuvront would require state legislators to share the pain.  "If we ask for you to take a 5 percent pay cut, then we need to take a 5 percent pay cut," he said.  However, he said his bill is being held by the Senate leadership.  He urged state employees to contact Senate President Bob Burns and demand that the "shared sacrifice" bill be let out for a vote.

Contact Sen. Burns at (602) 926-5993 or at rburns@azleg.com and let him know what you think.

Watch a video of the rally.