Knopp opposes 63 percent pay raise

(Update: Knopp opposes legislation, pay raise)

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Oregon lawmakers are considering raising their annual pay by nearly $20,000 in an effort to attract more qualified candidates to the Legislature.

Senate Majority Leader Ginny Burdick is behind the measure, Senate Bill 959, to bump pay by 63 percent. The Democrat from Portland told Oregon Public Broadcasting that low pay screens out diverse candidates ” who really should be represented here. ”

She admitted that lawmakers have been hesitant to consider a pay increase because it might not play well politically.

Legislators currently make $31,200 – that’s after a recent pay raise that went into effect Feb. 1.

It’s unclear where they’ll get the funds for another salary bump. State budgeters are already asking for cuts across nearly all state agencies and are scrambling to come up with extra cash to fully fund K-12 education.

Sen. Tim Knopp, R-Bend, came out Thursday against Senate Bill 959.

“It is not appropriate for legislators to be giving themselves pay raises, we have far more pressing issues facing our state than how much legislators are paid,” Knopp said. ” It sets a dangerous precedent for the organization in charge of spending for the state to give themselves a pay raise. If the voters want us to be paid more, they can propose a ballot measure to do so, but I won’t hold my breath. ”

Knopp is the state senator for Senate District 27, which represents Bend, Redmond, Sunriver, and Tumalo.