Oregon Democratic legislators propose a raise for lawmakers to encourage more diverse candidates
By Hillary Borrud, oregonlive.com
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Oregon lawmakers are looking at giving themselves a raise, a proposal that supporters say would help boost diversity so the Legislature would better reflect the communities it represents.
On Wednesday evening, a committee focused on “modernizing the people’s Legislature” will hold a public hearing on a proposal that could raise legislators’ annual salaries from $32,800 to roughly $55,000. The actual amount would be tied to a calculation of average wages in Oregon under House Bill 3144.
Serving in the Legislature is a part-time job, with sessions that run about five months in odd-numbered years and 35-day sessions in even-numbered ones. Lawmakers hold periodic interim committee meetings outside of sessions.