"I couldn't possibly fail to disagree with you less."
26 January 2007Then again, they're officially part-timeHouse Joint Resolution 1007, by Rep. Jason Murphey (R-Guthrie) would lay the groundwork for a State Question which, if approved by voters, would eliminate the Board on Legislative Compensation [link goes to Rich Text Format document] and fix the pay of state legislators, currently $38,400 per year, at:
Oklahoma’s Annual State Per Capita Personal Income as determined by the United States Census Bureau of Economic Analysis or the successor body of the same.
According to the McCarville Report, this figure currently stands at $29,808. Text of the proposed State Question:
This measure amends the State Constitution. It amends the section that sets pay for members of the Legislature. It does away with the Board that sets pay for Legislators. It provides a way for salaries to be set. The pay would be equal to Oklahoma's Annual State Per Capita Personal Income. This is determined by the federal Census Bureau. Other benefits, such as health insurance, retirement, travel, per diem and additional pay for Legislative leaders would have to go to a vote of the people. Oklahoma voters would have to vote to allow changes in these benefits.
What you think of this might depend on whether you think state legislators are overpaid. (I'm of two minds here: some of them earn every dime, some of them I'd pay to stay home.) But the idea of indexing their pay to everybody else's has a certain visceral appeal. Years ago Mad Magazine put forth this question "Why should Congress get a cost of living raise when it's their job to keep the cost of living down?". I kinda like this law. Posted by: Dwayne "the canoe guy" at 7:46 AM on 26 January 2007 |