Bredesen says open to furloughs to soften layoffs

 Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen says he's open to measures such as furloughs and contract freezes to soften state employee layoffs.

Bredesen has asked state agencies to plan for up to 9 percent cuts in their spending plans for the next budget year that begins July 1 and has said that layoffs of state workers are likely as the state's poor economy continues to show little improvement.

However, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported Bredesen saying he's "very willing" to look at other options because he wants to "try to keep people employed."

The Tennessee State Employees Association questions the need for layoffs and is calling for an "intense examination" of contracts with private vendors. The group's leaders also said furloughs should be a "last resort to prevent layoffs."