Topeka ? Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on Friday defended her proposal to allow state agency chiefs to choose which employees receive some pay raises.

She said the directive, which she is scheduled to sign Monday, would give department heads discretion to offer pay raises to employees who may have more marketable skills.

“We are trying to introduce some of the market flexibility that exists in our competitors and keep the talent in state government,” she said.

The Kansas Association of Public Employees, which represents about 10,000 state employees, opposes the move, saying it will lead to favoritism.