Pay raises frozen for state lawmakers

OKLAHOMA CITY - State lawmakers say judges and elected officials in Oklahoma should not get pay raises.

The bipartisan group of legislators filed a resolution Wednesday to reject raise proposals.

In September, the board of judicial compensation approved a six percent raise for judges.

Statewide elected officials would also receive a raise because their salaries are based on judges' salaries.

Republican House Speaker Kris Steele says Oklahoma is still emerging from the recession and now is not the time for pay raises.

Meanwhile, members of Congress won't get pay raises either.

On Wednesday, the House voted to extend a bill that would freeze the wages of federal workers for a third year.  That does not apply to military personnel.

It would also bar members of Congress from giving themselves a pay raise.

Republican sponsors say this bill will save taxpayers $26 billion.

The salaries of rank-and-file Congress members have remained at $174,000 a year since 2009.