OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - An Oklahoma legislative leader says because
of a revenue shortfall, he wouldn't recommend a pay raise for
lawmakers.
House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, said Friday the Legislative
Compensation Board has the ultimate decision on whether
legislators' pay should remain at the same level it's been for 12
years.
State agencies have had to cut 5 percent out of their budgets
for the past three months to deal with decreased revenue. Tax
collections have come in 26 percent below estimates for the first
three months of fiscal year 2010, which began July 1.
The Legislative Compensation Board last recommended an increase
in legislative salaries in 1997, from $32,000 to the present base
pay of $38,400.