World's Dirtiest Job: Oklahoma State Legislator

   Oklahoma State Legislators - it's what they do: the world's dirtiest job... Everyone has probably heard by now that the House budget committee passed not one, but two $6.8 billion state budget bills, at midnight last night. The only difference in the two, was that one contained a $1000 teacher pay raise and the other didn't. Guess which one the senators heard? You're right! The one with no teacher pay raise, but remember... "It's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it." Prognosis negative: In retrospect, teachers are unlikely to ever see a pay raise, as most teachers have never contributed one thin dime of payola toward any lawmaker's paycheck.
   The typical Oklahoma state legislator has a very dirty job because they often work past midnight, with no extra pay or "gratitude" from their constituents (the voters who elected them). The voters in their respective districts do not sign their paychecks, however, so it's doubtful many legislators actually work for their constituents - but work for the entities which do sign lawmaker paychecks. By the way, I know of no teachers who signed legislator paychecks, so why should any self-respecting state lawmaker work for teachers?
   State legislators do get paid, so someone must sign the checks. One of the largest legislator employers is the oil and gas industry which payed out about $683,000 to sitting lawmakers over the last two years, while public schools payed lawmakers virtually nothing. The old saying "Don't complain if you don't vote" has been changed by corporate lawmakers to "Don't complain if you don't sign my paycheck", which actually means "Don't complain if you didn't donate to my campaign". The job of a state legislator is too dirty and difficult to be wasting time on those that don't pay - it's just that simple. It's the reason that lawmakers are reluctant to increase the gross production tax rate, from the lowest in the nation (3.2%) to tied with the lowest (5%). In addition, many lawmakers signed a pledge that they will never vote to increase the tax rate... (only for the "wealthy" and corporate interests only, as they sign paychecks).
   Since I live and work in House District 42 and Senate District 43, I usually only pay attention (not payola) to how the House District 42 Representative and District 43 Senator vote on all major issues. I also take note of which entities sign their paychecks - in other words, which entities have provided a living wage for their efforts. The District 42 House member, Tim Downing, received $113,901 from various corporate groups, individuals, and dark money groups, of which $6,751 came from the oil and gas industry. These "oil and gas paychecks" were signed by ten different contributors, of which only one was a voting constituent. As for myself, I am a District 42 voting constituent, but have not "bought" any influence (contributed to the Tim Downing Fund) - so I don't expect any favors... and ask none.
   In summary, the work of a State Legislator is a difficult and dirty job, primarily because of the sheer number of corporate bosses that many answer to. When you become frustrated that the state budget is still on ice, or that teachers will receive no pay increase, or that Oklahoma is dead last in the nation for funding public schools - just remember, "Money talks and BS walks". Have a nice day...