MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- The Alabama Legislature is looking at furloughing its employees to cope with cuts in the state General Fund budget.

A Senate committee voted Tuesday to authorize Senate Secretary Pat Harris to implement furloughs of up to two days per month if necessary. House Clerk Greg Pappas said he already has the authority to do that in the House.

Harris and Pappas said they've already cut purchases and security costs because of the 10.6 percent budget reduction ordered by the governor two weeks ago. They said they are looking to see how the governor and other state programs adjust to budget cuts, but furloughs would be better than layoffs because employees would keep their jobs and their benefits.

The latest budget cut reduced the Legislature's appropriation by about $2 million.