Home / OPEA News

Lawmakers Won't Receive Salary Increase

Taking a cue from state employees, the Legislative Compensation Board has voted not to increase legislator’s salaries.  Members of the board voted unanimously October 20th to keep pay and benefits at the same level for the next three years.

 

The Oklahoma Public Employees Association sent letters to House and Senate leadership praising the decision, and urging lawmakers to consider a long-term compensation plan for state employees.

 

“Our elected officials have the benefit of a board to review and adjust their salaries,” said OPEA Deputy Director Scott Barger.  “State employees do not have that luxury.  We have not seen a pay increase in nearly four years, and we think it’s time our lawmakers put in place a long-term compensation plan.  Not only would that bring state employee’s salaries to market, it would also help reduce turnover,” Barger said. 

 

According to figures compiled by the National Conference of State Legislatures, Oklahoma’s lawmakers are the highest-paid legislators in the Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas region. 

 

Oklahoma’s state employees, meanwhile, are paid 16 percent below market.  “That’s appalling,” Barger said.  “The folks who build our roads, protect us from dangerous felons and safeguard our children often get by on much less than our lowest-paid legislators.  It’s time that changes, and OPEA is determined to affect that change.”

 

Posted on Wed, October 21, 2009 by Mark Beutler

4 comments (Add your own)

1. concerned wrote:
It is about time!!!!!!!! The legislature staff needs to learn how to econamize & struggle like the State worker's are having to do.Hats off to you Mr.Scott Barger.Thanks for standing up for the OPEA members. Luxury or no luxury, there needs to be a stop to it. Now is the time to put lawmakers in our place and give us a raise that we ALL have waited and earned for. Hopefully we will see some changes made in the coming year for 2010!

Wed, October 21, 2009 @ 11:34 AM

2. Lance wrote:
Let's see... Our legislaters were making $12,000 a year before, and then got raised to $38,000 a year. Wish I could work 3 or 4 months out of the year and make that much. Ohhh, but it gets better. You get extra money in the form of per diem, sitting on boards making policy's, and for other "added" expenses. But as a State employees, we're supposed to feel that we have been treated fairly. I guess if I were sitting in their shoes, I could smack my gums, and say I'll wait for my raise. If you want to make money from the State, it's a known fact that you quit, and come back as a contracter working at the same desk. Happens in every agency. We used to sit around and laugh when told our jobs could be contracted out. That meant we would get a pay raise and maybe double what we were making. Tell me the State saves money on Contractors, and I'll sell you some land in Florida cheap..

Wed, October 21, 2009 @ 3:17 PM

3. santford wrote:
Good job well done. Legislaters can not justify a pay raise for themselves when the nurses at odmhsas are making a lot less than area hospitals. Keep working to maintain our insurance benifits. That makes a big difference in our gross pay. Thanks again

Fri, October 23, 2009 @ 3:44 AM

4. Gene wrote:
Good job well done. In addition, the nurses at odmhsas appreciate all the effort you have done to keep our insurance benifits as they are.

Thanks again

Fri, October 23, 2009 @ 3:52 AM

Add a New Comment

Enter the code you see below:
code
 

Comment Guidelines: No HTML is allowed. Off-topic or inappropriate comments will be edited or deleted. Thanks.