Fixing lawmaker pay. Yes on Measure 116

By Taxpayers Association of Oregon
OregonWatchdog.com

Oregon lawmakers make less than the average Oregonian.

Furthermore, being a lawmaker is sometimes a 50-hour job with activists, media, lobbyists and concerned citizens calling you at all hours and all weekends.   People interrupt you at the grocery store to complain about bill votes.    The current lower-pay system penalizes rural lawmakers who have to travel up to five hours to get home on weekends.  The current-low pay system rewards lawyers, the affluent and government employees who are more flexible than the average Joe — yet it is more everyday citizens we wish to see get elected.

The current batch of lawmakers are stuck not wanting to vote on their own salaries so they sent Measure 116 to the ballot asking voters to approve having a commission set wages and benefits.   It is an imperfect method, but it opens the door for change.

The Taxpayers Association of Oregon believes state lawmakers’ pay should be tied to the average wage of Oregonians.  Under this model, lawmakers only get a raise when average Oregonians get a raise.  If there is a recession as our wages shrink, then so do lawmaker wages at the same rate.  Our model removes the conflict of interest of having lawmakers vote on their own raises by instead tying it to the average Oregon wage. Measure 116 would make it easier for this model to be implemented.  We hope they follow our advice.

Decent pay on average with everyday Oregonians will help keep the door open for all citizens in rural Oregon who want to run for office.

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