FAIR AND BIASED: Statewide Salary Increases Need Explanation!

Sunday, November 16, 2025

Statewide Salary Increases Need Explanation!

Weekly Opinion Editorial

RULES MATTER

by Steve Fair

Oklahoma legislators have an annual base salary of $47,500. In addition, they receive a per diem payment of $165 per day while the legislature is in session. The pay was raised about $12,000 six years ago. Two years prior, the Board on Legislative Compensation (BLC) had cut lawmaker's pay after legislators angered then Governor Mary Fallin, who controlled the members of the BLC. Fallin openly lobbied to retaliate by cutting legislative pay.

The BLC is composed of 5 members appointed by the governor, 2 members appointed by the President pro Tempore of the Senate and 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the House. The appointments must meet certain criteria to insure it represents a cross-section of Oklahomans. The BLC is a constitutionally created body that meets the third Tuesday of October in every odd-numbered year to consider legislative compensation. In October, the BLC voted to leave legislative pay where it is and not make any changes. They did vote to increase the legislative per diem.

A similar board to the BLC is the Statewide Official Compensation Commission. (SOCC). It was created this year by the legislature to set salaries for the nine key statewide elected officials. The members of the SOCC are the same ones that serve on the BLC. The SOCC recommended 25% raises for all state-wide elective offices, but governor. The next Oklahoma governor will get a +5.4% raise, moving their salary to $155,000, but they are provided a home and transportation. If approved, this would be the first raise for statewide office holders since 2009.

When the BLC and SOCC met in October, a former legislator turned lobbyist, James Leewright, voted as a member of both bodies. Lobbyists are forbidden to be members of the BLC, so Leewright was ineligible to vote. The two bodies are meeting again on Tuesday at the State Capitol to vote again. Leewright has been replaced on both panels with Lawtonian Krista Ratliff. Three observations:

First, a workman is worthy of his hire. Elected officials sacrifice their time, talent and treasure to serve in office. They should be adequately compensated. While the amount of the raises is hefty, bear in mind it has been 16 years since there have been increases. That is one of the reasons the SOCC was created- to avoid long periods without evaluation of compensation. Elected official's salary should increase just like their constituents. They earn their money.

Second, what did the SOCC base their salary increases on? They voted to more than double the state superintendent of public instruction salary. Currently the superintendent makes $124,373. The SOCC wants to increase it to $250,000 annually. The SOCC voted to increase the Lt. Governor's salary from $114,713 to $145,000,(+26%) the Attorney General's salary from $132,825 to $185,000, (+39%) the State Treasurer from $114,713 to $175,000,(+53%) the State Auditor and Inspector $114,713 to $150,000,(+31%), the three members of the state Corporation Commission from $114,713 to $165,000 (+44%), the State Labor Commissioner from $105,053 to $135,000, (+29%), and the state Insurance Commissioner from $126,713 to $185,000 (+46%).

If these recommendations are adopted, seven statewide elected officials will be making more money than the governor. The state superintendent of public instruction will be the highest paid elected official in Oklahoma. That doesn't seem right. The SOCC has some explaining to do. Ask your state legislator to explain how SOCC came up with their numbers.

Third, does anyone play attention to rules? The constitution is clear that a lobbyist is not to serve on the BLC. Leewright, a former legislator, is a registered lobbyist, yet he casts a vote? Did he not know the rules? Did he ignore the rules? Does anyone care about the rules? The fact that a revote is necessary should concern every Oklahoman. Playing fast and loose with the rules means there are no rules.

Mark Twain said, "If you obey all the rules you miss all the fun." While that may be case, elected officials should play by the rules. They are supposed to be accountable to the people.

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Why FAIR & BIASED?

FAIR- because that's my name and BIASED because the truth is we are all biased- either for something or against it. What's important is that our bias(opinions) are based on right- on absolute truth and not on changing values. What's right cannot change based on a change in circumstances. That is the basis for situational ethics.

Situation Ethics is a theory that is concerned with the outcome or consequences of an action; the end, as opposed to an action being intrinsically wrong. In the case of situation ethics, the end can justify the means. There are no absolutes. Your actions are guided only by your conscience.

A person's view of right can be subjective. But there is a way mankind can definitely know what's right and that is revealed in God's Word- the Bible. As His creatures, we should be biased toward things our Creator is for and biased against those things He is against. May God grant us the grace and understanding to know the difference.

PARTY AFFILIATION IS IMPORTANT! by Steve Fair- written in 2009

How important is political party affiliation? Some people mistakenly believe only politicians need political affiliation, which they use for support to get elected. They contend the electorate or voters, do not need to be aligned with any Party. These same people often state they “support the man, not the Party.” But whether they recognize it or not, they are supporting a party when they “support the man.”
Most of the Founding Fathers had a negative view of political parties. In his farewell address to the nation, George Washington warned about political parties saying, “However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.” In spite of Washington's warning, political parties were formed anyway.
From 1796 to 1828 the first political parties were formed. Starting with the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, two opposing factions arose. Each was concerned with how the new government was to be organized. The Federalists believed in a strong central government. Their philosophy and beliefs would closely mirror the Democrat Party today. The Anti-Federalists strongly supported the rights of the states. They would more closely align with Republicans today.
Since the mid 1800s, the Ds and Rs have been the two major political parties in our country. Political parties flourished in our government mainly for legislative organization and expediencies sake. Why is Party affiliation important for the average voter? Party affiliation is important for three very simples reasons.
First, party affiliation is the first vote a citizen casts. When a citizen registers as a Democrat, then they are aligning philosophically with the values, beliefs, tenets, and positions of the Democrats on the issues. Party affiliation “defines” you are and what you stand for. It should be taken as seriously as a vote for a specific candidate. Research what each Party stands for, their positions on issues, and then align with the Party that is closest to your values. Copies of both major Party platforms are available on-line or at the local library.
Second, legislatures organize themselves and conduct business using party affiliation. The legislative branch of government is the most powerful arm of the three branches of government. Legislative bodies hold closed meeting of party members, called a caucus to decide on questions of policy or leadership. The Republicans hold a caucus meeting and the Democrats hold a caucus meeting-both at the state and federal level. Unfortunately, conservative, moderate and liberal philosophies do not hold caucus meetings or control the legislative agendas- parties do. When someone says they vote for “the man,” not the party, they fail to understand the power and function of a caucus system in a legislative body. The Party in the majority controls appointments, Chairmanships, the agenda and countless other things through the caucus.
Third, party affiliation should be a matter of conviction, not convenience. Often, people align with a party so they can vote in primary elections or based on family tradition or geographies. Even candidates will align, file and run affiliated with a Party they have little philosophical agreement with. That decision is made out of convenience, not conviction. While no political party is perfect or has all the answers, there is a distinct difference between the two major parties and honest citizens should align with the Party that reflects their convictions.
The Democrat Party is more liberal than the Republican Party. Liberals believe in more government control of business, the environment and speech, using large bureaucratic programs to address real or perceived social ills and constant reinterpretation of the Constitution. Liberals are more inclined to trust government than the people themselves. They see the role of government as a great provider of goods and services and have little faith in the individual to solve his own problems.
Republicans are more conservative than Democrats. Conservatives believe in less government control of the environment and business. They want fewer and less comprehensive government programs to address real or perceived social ills. They believe in personal responsibility and trust individuals to make decisions for themselves. Republicans believe in a strict literal interpretation of the Constitution. A person should find out which of these philosophies best fits their view if they wish to actively participate in the political process.
Party affiliation is important. Washington’s prophecy has come to past, and political parties have been used to empower “unprincipled men,” on both sides of the aisle, but like it or not, political parties are a reality in our system of government. Each concerned citizen should evaluate the philosophy, values, beliefs and tenets of each Party and align their party affiliation accordingly.

FAIR AND BIASED

Sunday, November 16, 2025

Statewide Salary Increases Need Explanation!

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PARTY AFFILIATION IS IMPORTANT! by Steve Fair- written in 2009

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