January 25, 2007
GUTHRIE - (January 25, 2007) - Saying he can think of no better place to trim state waste than the Oklahoma Legislature, state Rep. Jason Murphey (R-Guthrie) today announced the introduction of House Joint Resolution 1007.

Murphey's resolution calls for a vote of the people to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to slash state legislators' pay. If approved by the voters, the amendment would cut Oklahoma legislative annual salaries from $38,400 per year to match the annual income of the average Oklahoman, which now stands at $29,908.

Murphey also presented the first of 12 monthly donations totaling $8,492 from his paycheck (the difference between his legislative salary and the average Oklahoman's salary) to officials from Crossroads, An Open Door For Life Choices, INC. Crossroads, located in Guthrie. Crossroads provides faith-based, pro-life counseling and support services to expectant mothers.

Murphey said that Oklahoma legislators are the third highest paid part-time legislators in the nation, making more than double the regional average of $18,333.

"In order to reform government we must cut out wasteful state government spending. I hope most would agree that it is wasteful to pay legislators more than double the regional average," Murphey said.

Murphey's proposal would index legislative pay to the annual income of the average Oklahoman.

Current Regional Legislative Pay

Oklahoma $38,400 per year
Missouri $31,351 per year
Colorado $30,000 per year
Arkansas $14,067 per year
Kansas $83.14 per day ($7,316 on 88 day session)
Texas $7,200 per year
New Mexico $0 per year
Regional Average $18,333

Regional Legislative Pay If HJR1007 Is Approved By the Voters

Missouri $31,351 per year
Colorado $30,000 per year
Oklahoma $29,908 per year
Arkansas $14,067 per year
Kansas $83.14 per day ($7,316 on 88 day session)
Texas $7,200 per year
New Mexico $0 per year
Regional Average $17,120 per year

Top 5 Highest Paid Part-Time Legislatures in the Nation (out of 39 that do not serve year-round)

Maryland $40,500
Delaware $39,785
Oklahoma $38,400
Hawaii $35,000
Washington $34,227
*Compensation and part-time status information taken from the National Conference of State Legislatures. www.ncsl.org

Crossroads: an Open Door for Life Choices, Inc. of Guthrie, Oklahoma Crossroads is a Christian ministry dedicated to the sanctity of human life, the belief in abstinence until marriage and the teaching of sound Christian precepts of life-style and parenting.

Crossroads provides an opportunity to reach out in love to pregnant young women and single mothers and assists them emotionally, spiritually and physically. It provides programs to save the life of the unborn, teaches Christ-centered principles of parenting and living, provides for material needs and offers support for women who have had abortions. Crossroads also presents adoption as a loving parenting option.