After voters rejected a bill that would have given the task to an independent commission, Oregon lawmakers will continue to determine their own wages as well as those of the governor, secretary of state, and certain other elected officials.
According to an analysis by The Oregonian/OregonLive, as of Thursday morning, the measure was failing 53% to 47% in partial returns, leaving no realistic way for the result to change.
Many lawmakers, unions, and progressive organizations have long said that Oregon lawmakers’ and other elected officials’ low pay deters young, less wealthy people from running for government, thus Measure 116’s failure is a setback for them.
Currently, lawmakers receive approximately $41,000 annually in addition to $178 daily stipends during legislative sessions and $450 to $1,025 monthly stipends during non-session months, depending on the district’s geographic area. Other elected officials in the state receive some of the lowest compensation in the country for their positions. The salaries of Oregon’s governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, and labor commissioner are $98,600, $82,220, and $77,000, respectively.
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The measure’s proposed commission would have determined the pay of the governor, state treasurer, attorney general, labor commissioner, Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, tax, and circuit court judges, as well as state senators, state representatives, district attorneys, and state senators.
At the moment, parliamentarians are in charge of that duty and are not obligated to address the matter at any given time. Legislators have previously proposed legislation to significantly increase their own compensation, arguing that their low income is insufficient for the time-consuming nature of their work. However, most of these attempts have not received broad support.
During the 2023 legislative session, lawmakers sent the proposal to the ballot. They stated at the time that they hoped the commission would comprise human resources specialists who could determine officials’ salaries using research.
The bill did not outline who would be nominated or who would be in charge of setting up that procedure, but it would have barred state employees, lobbyists, and members of their immediate families from serving on the commission. Legislators would therefore be able to determine that procedure.
The measure’s supporters claimed that by removing MPs’ power to determine their own compensation—which they contend is a conflict of interest—it would advance equity. They said that by guaranteeing state elected officials a living income, the commission would incentivize applicants from a variety of backgrounds to vie for government.
The commission’s lack of accountability to voters was a topic of contention for the opposition, who pointed out that its members would not be held accountable for setting excessively high wages. Additionally, they noted that lawmakers would have authority over the appointment process and that the proposal did not preclude many people with direct political links from serving on the panel.
The Democratic Party of Oregon, the Portland Urban League, a number of unions, and progressive organizations were among those who supported the bill. According to campaign finance records, a political committee that supported the proposition raised $384,000. The majority of the funds came from progressive organizations and unions.
Campaign manager for Yes on 116, Blanca Gaytan Farfan, said in a statement, “We are disappointed that Measure 116 did not pass, but we know this is not the end of the discussion about making Oregon’s democracy more representative and accountable.”
To oppose the legislation, no organizations raised funds.
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State politics and government are covered by Carlos Fuentes. You may contact him at [email protected] or 503-221-5386.
Note: The salary of lawmakers was corrected in this item on November 22. They make more money than the story first claimed.
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