The Doyle administration is considering ways to soften the blow of 16-day furloughs state employees may take over the next two years.

Spokeswomen for the governor and DOA confirmed one option under consideration would spread out the loss of pay so employees wouldn't be hit all at once.

For example, the eight days in furloughs planned in each year of the biennium translate into 64 hours of work annually. That 64 hours of lost pay could be spread out over the 52 weeks of the year, meaning state workers would only lose about 1.2 hours of pay a week rather than going an eight-day stretch without any compensation.

DOA spokeswoman Linda Barth said details of the furloughs are still being worked out. But the state's intention is to furlough all state employees other than the two exceptions Doyle announced last week for those working in 24-hour care facilities or in a prison.

That includes furloughs for UW employees and faculty.

Barth said the state doesn't have the power, however, to furlough employees from the legislative and judicial branches.

A court spokesman said Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson and the director of state courts are studying the governor's recommendation before deciding how to proceed in that branch.

Carry Lynch, a spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker, said furloughs for Senate employees were planned, while a spokeswoman for Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan said that possibility is still being discussed.

Doyle spokeswoman Carla Vigue confirmed that Doyle plans to meet with UW System chancellors on Friday at the Executive Residence to discuss the budget situation. Vigue said it's one of many talks Doyle has had as he tries to resolve the current shortfall.

She said the guv still hopes to have a detailed plan to address the additional $1.6 billion shortfall out later this week.

-- By JR Ross