The Board on Legislative Compensation will review state lawmakers’ salaries in October.
Oklahoma is one of 19 states with compensation commissions designed to “…provide independent and impartial recommendations” on lawmakers’ pay, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).
Oklahoma’s board is constitutionally created and is made up of nine members, including five members appointed by the governor and two members each appointed by the Senate president pro tempore and the House speaker. The board tentatively is set to meet Oct. 15
According to the Constitution, the members appointed by the governor must be from religious organizations, communications media, nonstate-supported educational institutions, labor organizations, and retail business.
The two members appointed by the Senate president must represent agricultural and civic organizations. The House speaker’s two appointments must be from manufacturing and from professional fields not otherwise specified. The Constitution prohibits any member of the Legislature from being appointed to or serving on the board.
Currently, the board is three members short. Gov. Mary Fallin is expected to name one of those members this week, according to John Estus, spokesman for the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, which provides staff support to the board. House Speaker T.W. Shannon, R-Lawton, needs to make his two appointments to the board, as well, records show.
Members of the board appointed by Fallin include Kenneth Roper; Mike O’Neal; Wesley Milbourn, who was named chair by the governor; and Reno Hammond. Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman’s appointees are former Sen. Charles Ford and former Rep. Mike Wilt.
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