Oregon Legislative Assembly Office of the Senate President Office of the House Speaker

News Release

 

Contact:  Robin Maxey                        Geoff Sugerman               February 6, 2009

            (503) 986-1605                           (503) 986-1210

robin.maxey@state.or.us         geoff.sugerman@state.or.us

 

Legislative Leaders Cut Assembly

Budget, Announce Salary Freeze

 

(SALEM) – Legislative leaders today announced the freezing of salaries within the Legislative Assembly and reductions in the various budgets of the Legislative branch amounting to $4.3 million for the 2007-2009 biennium.

 

Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Dave Hunt also announced their intention to pass legislation during the session to freeze lawmakers’ salaries by rejecting the recommendation for a pay increase suggested by the Public Officials Compensation Commission.

 

“The budget process we are beginning will include very real and painful reductions in programs upon which Oregonians depend in the course of their everyday lives. It will be necessary for everyone, including the Legislative body, to share in the sacrifice,” Courtney said. “We will take our share of the cuts and we will cut our own budget first.”

 

“Everyone in Oregon is tightening their belts. So are we,” Hunt said. “All of us understand how deep and difficult these cuts will be and it’s important that we show we are serious about balancing the budget, starting with our own cuts.”

 

Hunt and Courtney testified about the legislative budget cuts contained in House Bill 5015 in front of the Joint Ways and Means Sub-Committee on General Government Thursday morning. During their testimony the presiding officers also announced that they would issue a memorandum today freezing the salaries of legislative employees.

 

“We understand that everyone’s life is being affected by the fiscal crisis in our nation and we do not seek to add to anyone’s anxiety. It is our hope that by making these cuts and freezing salaries now we can avoid a reduction in force in legislative agencies later,” Courtney said.

 

“We want to encourage all Oregonians to come to the public hearings about the cuts that will be held next week at the Capitol. We need to hear from you about how we should prioritize the cuts we are forced to make to balance the budget,” Hunt said. “This first $4.3 million cut is just the start of a difficult process over the next three weeks. Let’s get to work.”