State House Speaker T.W. Shannon quietly granted 52 House staff members pay raises ranging from 1.95 percent to 33.33 percent last July.

The raises were granted while rank-and-file state employees were being told they would have to await the results of a compensation study before being considered for pay hikes next year.

The three largest percentage raises went to staff attorneys, who received $15,337.50 to $15,500 a year pay increases. The lowest percentage raise went to a housekeeper who now makes $500.20 a year more than her $25,708 former salary.

The 52 employees represent nearly half of the state House's 117 permanent employees. Their combined raises total more than $280,000 a year.