1 To Chew On. Our State Legistlators Rank 18th in Pay Nationally.

[ignerntbend]

We hate the government. We pay it extra for doing nothing. It's worth it too. We get almost as much nothing as we pay for.

 

[rhart]

I like that one ignert

 

[Greengiant]

For what it's worth, the salary has been at the same level since 1998. Until 1988, it was $20K. In 1988, the salary was increased to $32K. In 1998, the salary was increased to $38.4K.

Who is responsible for setting the salaries and benefits? 5 board members (including the chair) appointed by the Governor, 2 appointed by the Speaker of the House, and 2 appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. The Director of State Finance and Chair of the Oklahoma Tax Commission are also on the board as ex-officio members.

If their salary was tied to inflation, it would be $54.5K today.

38k, and we think its bad, whom here wants the job?

 

[ez bake]

For what it's worth, the salary has been at the same level since 1998. Until 1988, it was $20K. In 1988, the salary was increased to $32K. In 1998, the salary was increased to $38.4K.

Who is responsible for setting the salaries and benefits? 5 board members (including the chair) appointed by the Governor, 2 appointed by the Speaker of the House, and 2 appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. The Director of State Finance and Chair of the Oklahoma Tax Commission are also on the board as ex-officio members.

If their salary was tied to inflation, it would be $54.5K today.

Base salary is only (a small) part of the equation. That's how you hide money - put it in compensation packages.

Average Oklahoma Legislator makes base pay of 38,400 plus the $147 per day and that doesn't count other expenses they're allowed (there was a local news report about this a while back, but I can't seem to find the link).

Not bad for part-time work when the other 2/3 of your year is filled with representing lobbyists' interests in some form (to be fair, not all OK congressmen/women are doing this). Also remember - no degree is required, nor is there a qualification test or any sort of measure of their success/failure the way state-student tests and evaluations are used to measure teachers.

And there are all sorts of odd-requirements surrounding when they get to be off and when the work day has to end:

Under the Oklahoma Constitution, legislative sessions must begin at noon on the first Monday in February of every odd-numbered year, cannot exceed one hundred and sixty days, and must be finally adjourned by no later than five o'clock p.m. on the last Friday in May of each year.[18] The first session cannot exceed 160 days.[19] In odd numbered years following an election, the legislature must meet on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January for the sole purpose of determining the outcome of the state-wide elections. This meeting must begin at noon and must be adjourned by five o'clock p.m. on the same day.

Edit - best I can tell, OK Senate was in session for 53 days last year and the House only had 70 days on their calendar - that's like less than half the time teachers work (and everybody gripes because they get 2 1/2 months off).

 

[bettingpython]

38k, and we think its bad, whom here wants the job?

Not me.