Oklahoma legislators to get 35 percent pay raise

[SMS]

Full time salary (plus travel and per diem when they are in session, as well as workman’s comp if they get hurt driving to session lol. Google that one.) for an officially part time job is pretty sweet.

Tone deaf, but sweet.

 

[CHenry]

So many tired of watching them sleep or watch porn during sessions and then get a 35% raise for doing a piss poor job. Yes I have gone and watched sessions.

OK is one of the highest taxed stats per capita and with the least amount of progress for our dollar. Sorry but they may deserve getting back what they lost and then the same percentage as they vote for teachers, etc. Nothing more.

There's definitely corruption but more so in the agencies that receive state money. The county Jail is under huge scrutiny right now and there are others. But that has nothing to do with the Law makers.
And there are some jackwagon legislators but natural process of voting them out works pretty well.

 

[DRC458]

... you chose your path, no one else. Own it.

So did all of the elected officials we're talking about! Nobody forced them to run for office. They made a very deliberate decision to seek office, then spent a lot of money to get there ... mostly other people's money, but nonetheless. I've known several people who served in our state legislature over the years. I don't recall hearing any of them complain about the money. Complained about some of the BS they had to put up with, but not the money. Some folks seek public office for all the right reasons, then get burned when they get there. Others seek the office for purely personal reasons. If they're crying about their pay, I have zero sympathy for them.

 

[Shadowrider]

Actually offering a livable salary for legislators allows more “Everyman” people to serve. If there’s little to no pay, then who can afford to be a full time public servant?

Full time salary (plus travel and per diem when they are in session, as well as workman’s comp if they get hurt driving to session lol. Google that one.) for an officially part time job is pretty sweet.

I would normally say to this but here's how I see it.

Who can afford to work their real job 8 months out of the year? Answer: Only those that are well heeled.

We need some common folk to step up, but it's really not a realistic scenario for most of us. If they can make a living wage on 4 months worth of of work it takes the other 8 months to a much lesser issue and more people might step up and give it a go. We need more common folk running and less of those who live in gated communities that live behind their hired security and that have lost touch with what it's like to have to work for a living.

 

[RickN]

There's definitely corruption but more so in the agencies that receive state money. The county Jail is under huge scrutiny right now and there are others. But that has nothing to do with the Law makers.
And there are some jackwagon legislators but natural process of voting them out works pretty well.

It is not just corruption but waste, poor planing and bad management. We build 4 lane highways when they know it will have to be expanded in a couple years. Spend money on things that are not needed instead of things that are. Vote this or that state symbol or day instead of cutting waste or getting rid of bad, excessive or extra employees. Screw replacing a bad bridge, we need an ugly statue on top the capital dome. Why should we investigate $100,000.00 bathrooms when we want one too?

And at one session I was at, probably 20% of the legislators were asleep or reading a magazine. I swear 2 of them were playing tic tac toe or something. Might have been hangman. I just know they were taking turns writing something on several sheets of paper.

 

[CHenry]

We build 4 lane highways when they know it will have to be expanded in a couple years.

I can adress this, that other stuff is all your misinformed opinion and most of it isnt treu at all.
Name a highway that fits your narrative here and I'l tell ya why it was built the way it was.

 

[O4L]

I can adress this, that other stuff is all your misinformed opinion and most of it isnt treu at all.
Name a highway that fits your narrative here and I'l tell ya why it was built the way it was.

Are you going to tell us there is no waste or corruption at ODOT?

 

[Fyrtwuck]

No I would not!
Thank you for serving in the CITY socialist program I pay for. That has nothing to do with the legislators.
Now, I'm sorry your suffering health issues but dont give me a pity party, you chose your path, no one else. Own it.

Yes, I worked for the city, but our retirement comes from the STATE and is controlled by the legislature the same as the teacher and Highway Patrol retirement systems. Call it a pity party if you want, but as the saying goes, “walk a mile in my shoes”. Own it you say. I do. I did choose my profession and I have no regrets.

My irritation comes from the people who are getting paid by my taxes who are supposed to represent us and they aren’t.

 

[CHenry]

Yes, I worked for the city, but our retirement comes from the STATE and is controlled by the legislature the same as teacher retirement system. Call it a pity party if you want, but as the saying goes, “walk a mile in my shoes”.

Like I said, I'm sorry your having health issues. I know lots of firemen who do as well. I dont know why they wanted to do this career but I commend them all

 

[CHenry]

Are you going to tell us there is no waste or corruption at ODOT?

Honestly, no, if so its so minor that it doesnt really make a hill of beans. We have our on auditing dept. and they run a tight ship.
My job is to build a safe highway that meets the traffic demands and do it as cost efficient as possible. Cost is always a driving factor, always.