Topeka ? The Republican-controlled House committee has rejected the idea of restoring a pay-raise program for some Kansas public employees.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the committee on Thursday voted down a motion to set aside $8.5 million to resume a plan to raise salaries of the state’s lowest-paid government workers.

The motion was defeated by a 9-11 vote.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Marc Rhoades, a Newton Republican, said state employees should consider moving to the private sector if they think that state pay is too low.

Others raised concerns that the state was losing qualified employees, especially nurses at state hospitals, who leave for the private sector.