Our opinion: It's time to pay Oregon legislators a decent wage

The state seal at the Oregon Capitol. The time has come to pay legislators a decent wage for the more-than-full-time job that runs year 'round.

 PMG file photo

At the Oregon Legislature, chairing a committee means having clout. Chairs decide which bills move and which don't. The entire region benefits from having committee leaders representing our districts.

Take, for example, Reps. Karin Power of Milwaukie, Rachel Prusak of West Linn, and Anna Williams of Hood River. In the legislative session that ended this month, Powers chaired the House Committee on Early Childhood, Prusak chaired the House Committee on Health Care, and Williams chaired the House Committee on Human Services. All three representatives are women. All are relatively young for legislators. All bring expertise on matters that affect our families and our lives.