SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline)-Oregon's attorney general and its judges should be paid more to bring their pay in line with other states, an independent commission said Wednesday.
The Public Officials Compensation Commission called on lawmakers to give the state's next attorney general a 54 percent raise above the posts current salary of $77,200.
As for state judges, the 2007 Legislature gave those on the bench a 16 percent raise. The Compensation Commission said that was inadequate. The citizens' panel called for an additional 10 percent raise to $132,000 a year.
The 11-member panel also called for raises for state lawmakers, who currently earn $19,884 a year. Proponents of the raise say the low pay for Oregon legislators discourages potential candidates from running for the House or Senate.
The commissioners will hold a public hearing Sept. 18 to discuss the proposed pay increases. The commission will then meet Oct. 1 to make its final recommendations to the Legislature.
From Legal Newsline: Reach reporter Chris Rizo at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.