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Spoiling the Legislature?

9/2/2016

Comments

 
PictureOklahoma thrived as a state for 90 years without a dome tower crushing the structure's foundation ... a fitting metaphor.
  •   Why does an Oklahoma legislator make more than 5 times the pay of a Texas legislator?
  • Why are Oklahoma taxpayers paying for an exclusive health club inside the capitol for each member?
  These are just a few uncomfortable questions that no one seems to be asking. Certainly not our legislators, themselves.
  The recent struggle of our State Auditor, who was just evicted from the capitol because bureaucrats think the building is no longer large enough to house our growing state government; is just another reminder that Oklahoma's conservative rhetoric is just campaign-speak.  Republicans like bigger offices and shiny new toys even more than Democrats. and they want someone else to pay for them.


  In the years since Oklahoma Republicans first started to flex some significant political muscle in the state government (around 1995), there has been an insatiable appetite for bigger, fancier, and heavier cost of running the free state of Oklahoma. 
  Yes, Gov. Frank Keating wanted a fancier mansion with impressive amenities. He wanted a big heavy dome above the capitol rotunda. But Oklahoma now has to shore up the building under the rotunda and the remodeling and repairs are costing us way more than the dome, itself.
  In 1995, the capitol was big enough for the executive, judicial, and legislative branches. Sure, the legislators often had to "double bunk" and share support services. But are we getting better government for all our massive new spending? Or are we being eaten up with more overhead just to keep up our appearances? Perhaps it's time to stop trying to look like a mini Washington and instead we should focus on functional. We really don't need a governor's mansion. Most churches don't keep a parsonage or rectory next to the chapel, either. 
  Often the expense of unnecessary politicians' perks are brushed off by telling the voters that private donations are going to cover the cost. Yet the few who diligently watch these projects through to their completion will tell you that taxpayers ultimately  pay a good chunk of the cost. 
  • The Capitol Dome was not completed until tax money was appropriated. And the cost to repair the foundation and supports have all been shouldered exclusively by our further indebtedness to bonds.
  • The Governor's mansion and entire estate costs much more now than ever. Even when the daughter of the governor tried to make it into an RV park, there's no record that the customary RV hook up fees were ever paid.
  • The legislator's health club, on the bottom floor, was said to be outfitted with donated accommodations and equipment. Yet the taxpayers ended up paying a big chunk when the donations didn't materialize to the level we were told. Also, the personnel, maintenance and repairs are an annual expense that taxpayers are not very aware of.
 In 1988, the Democrat-dominated legislature accepted the report of a committee tasked with determining what legislative pay should be. That committee recommended a massive pay raise, putting Oklahoma among the highest paid legislatures in the nation. 
  Look at the liberal states who pay their legislators smaller salaries than Oklahoma. Two thirds of the states pay their legislators less than does Oklahoma. 
  Ironically, the Republicans came to power on a platform of smaller and more limited government. the OKGOP platform still touts that core principal. But you wouldn't know it by the Republican leadership's behavior.
​  The current OKGOP platform says;
REPUBLICAN PRINCIPLES
"We believe in limited government, individual liberty, natural rights, and personal moral responsibility....
​
​...Revenues collected at all levels of government should be used only for well-defined, legitimate government functions, and should be carried out efficiently so that tax rates may be kept as low as possible."
Picture
State Salary Per diem (allowance or reimbursement)
California $100,113 /year $176/day for each day in session.
Pennsylvania $085,339 /year $175/day; tied to the federal rate
New York $079,500 /year $174/day (including overnight) or $59/day (no overnight).
Michigan $071,685 /year $10,800/year expense allowance for session and interim; set by the compensation commission.
Illinois $067,836 /year; members are required to forfeit one day of compensation per month $111/per session day.
Ohio $060,584 /year $0 (No per diem is paid.)
Hawaii $060,180 /year $175/day for members living outside Oahu in session; $10/day for members living on Oahu.
Massachusetts $060,032 /year $10–$100/day, depending on the distance from the State House; set by the legislature.
Wisconsin $050,950 /year The Wisconsin State Senate allows up to $88/day for per diem. For Senators living in Dane County, they receive a per diem of $44 per day. The Wisconsin State Assembly allows a maximum of $138/day per diem for legislators that stay overnight. For legislators that do not commute, they are given $69/day for per diem.
Alaska $050,400 /year $223 or $249/day (depending on the time of year); tied to the federal rate. Legislators who reside in the Capitol area receive 75% of the federal rate.
New Jersey $049,000 /year $0 (No per diem is paid.)
Maryland $046,061 /year $101/day for lodging; $45/day for meals. Tied to the federal rate and the compensation commission.
Washington $045,474 /year $120/day
Delaware $044,541 /year $0 No per diem is paid.
Alabama $042,830 /year $0 No set per diem during the legislative session. Legislators are reimbursed for in-state travel expenses, which include mileage and per diem.
Arkansas $039,400 /year $150/day plus mileage; tied to the federal rate.
Oklahoma $038,400 /year $157/day; tied to the federal rate.
Missouri $035,915 /year $112/day; tied to the federal rate.
Minnesota $031,141 /year $86/day for senators and $66/day for representatives, per approval of the committee chair or leadership. Set by the legislature.
Colorado $030,000 /year $99/day for members living outside Denver; $45/day for members who live 50 or fewer miles from the Capitol.
Florida $029,697 /year $152/day based on the number of days in session.
Connecticut $028,000 /year $0 (No per diem is paid.) Mileage is .54/mile.
Iowa $025,000 /year $160/day; $120/day for Polk County legislators. Set by the legislature to coincide with the federal rate. State mileage rates apply.
Indiana $024,671 /year $161/day; tied to the federal rate.
Arizona $024,000 year $35/day for the first 120 days of the regular session and for special sessions and $10/day thereafter. Members residing outside Maricopa County receive an additional $25/day for the first 120 days of the regular session and for special sessions and an additional $10/day thereafter. Set by statute.
Oregon $023,568 /year $140/day
Tennessee $020,884 /year $204/legislative day; tied to federal rate.
West Virginia $020,000 /year $131/day in session; set by the compensation commission.
Virginia $018,000 /year for the Senate; $17,640/year for the House $185/day
Georgia $017,342 /year $173/day, set by the Legislative Services Committee.
Louisiana $016,800 /year $157/day; tied to the federal rate.
Idaho $016,684 /year $129/day for members establishing a second residence inBoise; $49/day if no second residence is established and up to $25/day travel. Set by the compensation commission.
Rhode Island $015,414 /year $0 (No per diem is paid.)
Maine $014,074 /year for first regular session; $9,982/year for second regular session $38/day for lodging, or mileage and tolls in lieu of housing (at a rate of $0.44/mile up to $38/day) plus $32/day for meals. Set by statute.
North Carolina $013,951 /year $104/day; set by statute.
Nebraska $012,000 /year $140/day for members residing 50 miles or more from the Capitol; $51/day for members inside the 50-mile radius.
South Carolina $010,400 /year $140/day for meals and housing for each statewide session day and committee meeting; tied to the federal rate.
Mississippi $010,000 /year $140/day; tied to the federal rate.
Texas $007,200 /year $190/day; set by the ethics commission.
South Dakota $006,000 /session $140/legislative day; set by the legislature.
New Hampshire $000,100 /year $0 (No per diem is paid.)
New Mexico $000000 (None) $163/day; tied to the federal rate.
 In the mid 80's, the Reagan revolution was beginning to impact Oklahoma state politics. Republicans reached a milestone of having about 1/3 of each house of the legislature.  
  It was under the leadership of Speaker Jim Barker and Senate Pro Tem Roger Randle that the first massive legislative pay raises were pushed through.
Picture
Speaker Jim Barker, D- Muskogee
Picture
Picture
Gov. Henry Bellmon R- Billings

Some states pay members of the legislators  only a weekly or daily stipend during days of the active session. We charted them separately.
State Salary Per diem (allowance or reimbursement)
  Weekly  
Vermont $000,693.74 /week during the legislative session only $115/day for lodging (including overnight) or $74/day (no overnight).
  Daily  
Montana $000082.64 /day $112.85/day
Utah $000,273 /day, Up to $100 plus tax/calendar day for lodging allotment; Up to $39/date meal reimbursement.
Kentucky $000,188.22 /day $154/day
North Dakota $000,172 /day during legislative sessions Lodging reimbursement up to $1,682 per month.
Wyoming $000,150 /day during session $109/day, including travel days for those outside of Cheyenne; set by the legislature.
Nevada $000,146.29 /day for maximum of 60 days of session $140/per day
New Hampshire $000,100 /year $0 (No per diem is paid.)
Kansas $000,088.66 /day $140/day
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    David Van Risseghem  is the Publisher of SoonerPolitics.org. The resource is committed to informing & mobilizing conservative Oklahomans for civic reform.  This endeavor seeks to utilize the efforts of all cooperative facets of the Conservative movement...

    ​"No politician 'checks off every box" in your list of issues. You have to prioritize and use personal discretion regarding every current and future issue that you can imagine. Then you have to also judge integrity & consistency. A candidate's openness to study the issues & courage to think for themselves. Then you need to review their honesty & work ethic.  I respect any voter's decision, when they've informed themselves and took voting seriously." - David Van Risseghem
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