Measure 116
Creates Commission to set the salaries of state legislators, statewide elected officials including the Governor, and various judges.
Measure 116 Creates Commission to set the salaries of state legislators, statewide elected officials including the Governor, and various judges.
It is the primary job of the Oregon legislature to approve the use of all tax dollars. Now, they want to duck that responsibility by changing our Constitution and set up an independent Commission to unilaterally declare the salaries of various state officials. The purpose is clear – they want a big pay increase. The unelected and unaccountable Commission would spend millions of our tax dollars. The nonelected Commission will mandate what the Legislature spends on various salaries. This is an abandonment of one of the most important duties of our elected lawmakers.
Currently, salaries are set by passing a bill. That bill goes through the normal procedure. This includes various public hearings with input from citizens and experts. The Legislature then must approve the bill. The Governor can then veto the new salaries, the citizens can force a vote on them, and will know which legislators to hold accountable.
Additionally, many of the specific details of this Commission, including its composition, who will appoint them, and how much its members will be paid, are not in the measure. As a result, these will have to be fleshed out in administrative rules. This process is controlled by the totally unaccountable Oregon deep state.
Our accountable elected legislators need to start a big discussion about compensation. But this Measure sidesteps that for a process not accountable to the people. While the goal of this Measure may be sound, the process is fatally flawed.
One last comment. The idea that the Legislature is due a wage increase after several years of very poor performance is galling. It’s a bit like getting a high school diploma for just showing up.
We recommend a No vote on Measure 116.
