Hooray for the Senate Democrats sticking up for our laws and refusing to go with Ted's Measure 37 deal. Cities and counties stuck with the administration problem need to learn how to lobby better. They're one of the weakest lobbies in the building.

I'm not a huge fan of Willy Week, but this sums up the session as well as anything:

"In short, the Dems' grand plans to exercise their newfound power came to naught. If you're a meth addict, a veteran of the Iraqi occupation or mentally ill, you did OK in the Capitol this year. But if you're struggling to pay your health-care premiums, you got no help. If you're wondering what your neighbor can build in the new anything-goes development arena, you're still wondering. If you're gay, this session meant no civil unions or anti-discrimination law. If you're hoping for long-overdue tax reform, keep dreaming."

The Dubie Awards

I think it was very appropriate for the lawmakers to give Speaker Minnis a grandfather clock because TIME STOOD STILL while these knuckleheads voted themselves ANOTHER raise, while keeping our $10 business income tax, to this day the cheapest such tax in the civilized world.

As for Minnis' kooky crocodile tears, showcased SHAMELESSLY on the Oregonian's front page, I'll save my true tears for the 200 oustanding teachers who got fired in Portland this summer. All to save our little bitty tax. $10. A year. Since 1929.

Sid- really they got a RAISE? Who told you that? What bill is it in? How much was it? Do you have any thing that backs that claim up that because that's the first I ever heard of it and I just want to make sure that it's true before everyone believes it.

Are you sure they actually voted themselves a raise? I thought legislative pay was tied to judges pay, which automatically indexes. So, I'm not so sure they voted a pay increase so much as their pay is about to go up.

Incidentally, since the pay is like $1200 per month and it's going up to $1400 per month, it's still not an amount I'd work for. This ain't Congress.

One other thing, legislators voted themselves a 5% pay CUT during the 2002 special sessions, when their pay automatically indexed up to $1347.

The Oregonian, the largest newspaper in the state, reported the lawmakers upping their own pay. Again.

The Big O also says that the vote to restore $30,000,000 to PPS schools died in the Senate late Tuesday night, when THREE DEMOCRATS WERE MISSING and presumed... drunk?

So, the lawmakers not only raise their pay, they don't show up for work when 50,000 schoolkids are desperate for their vote.

Pathetic.

Oregon is such a beautiful, safe, clean state with... rubes in the legislature. RUBES.

Sid-

Would you mind providing a link to the Oregonian article you cite. I'm interested.

JTT-

As I pointed out earlier to Sid, it wasn't a vote.

Legislators get 12% pay raise Friday, August 05, 2005 SALEM -- Ending a self-imposed salary freeze of three years, Oregon's 90 legislators are getting a 12 percent pay increase, legislative officials said Thursday.

The raise, which increased their salary from $1,283 to $1,437 a month, will show up on their August paychecks, which will be distributed in early September, said Dave Henderson, legislative administrator. It will be retroactive to July 1.

Legislative salaries are set automatically. They are indexed to the pay of other state officials.

In mid-2002, when legislators were being paid about $1,350 a month, they voted to reduce their pay to $1,283, and in 2003, they voted again to keep that salary through the end of the 2003-05 biennium.

The biennium ended June 30, and legislators' salaries increased, effective July 1, based on management pay in the executive branch, Henderson said. Lawmakers also receive $91 a day during legislative sessions to help cover expenses. -- Dave Hogan

Thanks for correction.

More pay.

Less work.

Got it.