(ABC 6 NEWS) - Layoffs and furloughs have become commonplace in our economy.

And now Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty wants state workers to follow suit.

He says this would help solve the state's $4.6 billion budget deficit over the next two years.

But not everyone is excited about the idea.

Paul Bissen is working on some spring-cleaning after work.

He's been a state worker for MnDOT for 24 years. 

"I still live basically paycheck to paycheck," says Bissen.

But a proposal from Pawlenty calls for state workers to take furloughs; unpaid days off, to help shrink Minnesota’s multi-billion-dollar budget deficit.

 "The governor is talking about 24 days off a year, that's five weeks, [which is] a substantial bump in anybody's checkbook,” Bissen says.

A state employee on a $40,000 salary could receive about $232 less per month, or about $2,300 less per year.

But Pawlenty Spokesman Alex Carey says the governor is not mandating all employees take 24 days off per year, he's saying up to a maximum of 24 days per year, so employees’ income cuts would likely be less.

"The proposal is in line with what many states and private businesses are doing, it's also one piece of a larger discussion about how we can keep government living within its means. Everybody's got to play their part, including the labor unions." says Carey.

Bissen is a union member.

He says they're willing to sit down at the bargaining table.

"State employees are willing to do our share, but to try and balance the budget by 10% of a person's salary isn't going to do the economy any good."

Carey says with several billion dollars to cut, employee costs must be seriously considered as part of the solution.