State of Oklahoma
House of Representatives
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 25, 2012
Democratic Leader Scott M. Inman
State Capitol Building Rm. 548
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
Contact: Eric Russell
405-962-7819
Inman Blasts Potential Pay Increases for Top Elected Officials
OKLAHOMA CITY (January 25, 2012) House Democratic Leader Scott Inman, D-Del City, called on Governor Fallin and the Republican Leadership in the House and Senate to put a stop to hundreds of thousands of dollars in pay raises for elected state officials such as Governor Fallin, Superintendent Janet Barresi, Labor Commissioner Mark Costello, and Insurance Commissioner John Doak.
“At a time when average Oklahoma families are struggling to put food on the table, haven’t had a pay increase in years, and are suffering through rising costs in medical care, it would be unconscionable for the Republican leadership and the Governor to stand by and allow over $350,000 in pay increases for elected state officials,” Inman said.
The Board on Judicial Compensation voted in September to support an across the board 6% increase in the salaries of Oklahoma judges.
A point that received little attention was that by law, the salaries of statewide elected officials are tied to the salaries of those in the judiciary. Therefore, when a judge receives a pay increase, a state official gets one as well.
The Governor's salary, for example, is tied to that of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, who currently makes $147,000 per year. A 6% bump in salary will bring the Governor’s compensation to $155,820.00, with another $2,130.00 in increased benefits.
The Judicial Compensation Board presented this pay increase recommendation to the House of Representatives and to the Governor four months ago for their approval. No comments have been forthcoming as to plans to disapprove this pending pay increase.
Leader Inman noted that the pay increases would be "egregiously hypocritical" if approved.
“To give the issue some perspective, the Governor and the Republican leadership would be giving a raise to politicians who have assaulted the pay and job security of teachers, firefighters, police officers, and many others who struggle to make ends meet.” Leader Inman said.
"We have endured consecutive years of cuts to our state agencies, to education, law enforcement,
transportation, and we expect another year of shortfalls over $150 million,” said Leader Inman. “To top it all off, there are serious efforts underway to further reduce state revenue and eliminate the few credits on the books that aid middle and lower-income families. If the decision of the Governor and the Republican leadership is to do nothing and let this pay increase take effect, it would be not only inappropriate, but irresponsible as well."
Superintendent Barresi last year declined to fund the National Board Certified Teacher program, which offered a $5,000 annual bonus to teachers with that certification. Teachers who completed the rigorous program on the promises of this merit pay received in effect a 12% pay cut due to Supt. Barresi’s decision.
Barresi, whose salary is tied to that of a District Judge, would make $7,462.00 more if the raises go into effect, with an additional $1,802.00 in benefits, bringing her compensation to $131,835.
Labor Commissioner Costello, who has repeatedly attacked state employees by comparing them to “feral hogs”, and who requested Sen. Dan Newberry, R-Tulsa, to file a bill to eliminate employment protections for nearly 25,000 state workers, stands to receive a pay increase of $6,303.00 and an additional $1522.00 in benefits. This would bring Commissioner Costello’s total compensation up to $111,356.
Inman said, “It has been six years since state employees received a pay increase. A lot of these statewide elected officials make three to five times more than average Oklahomans who take home little more than $30,000 a year. Today I call on all our statewide elected officials to reject this pay raise. To do anything less is inexcusable!”
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