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Cargill to OPEA – “We Want to Help You!”

 Speaker Cargill Gives Commencement Address To GRS Grads

 

 

In a commencement speech that demonstrated great respect for state employees, Oklahoma House Speaker Lance Cargill was the final speaker for the first ever OPEA Government Relations School.

 

Cargill opened the speech with an appreciation of state employees.

 

“I want to thank you for the job you do,” Cargill said.  “My mother is a long time state employee so I know that you are servants of the people, even though you aren’t elected!” he said.

 

Cargill went on to say that day to day state employees rarely get the recognition they deserve.

 

“It’s a team effort every day to keep Oklahoma running,” he said.  “And I know each of you do your part.”

 

From there Cargill thanked the employees for participating in the political process.

 

“By your being here today, you have proven that you have an interest in the best government possible,” he said.

 

Cargill believes that the more state employees become involved in the political system the better.

 

“Stay involved,” he said.  “You are on the ground and know what needs to be done to keep government running.”

 

Finally, Cargill addressed his vision for the future.

 

“It’s time for us to modernize state government,” he said.  “Oklahoma has over 515 agencies, boards and commissions, compared to Kansas with 115 and Arkansas with 200.”

 

Cargill said that work toward a bright future must begin immediately.

 

“The political process does not reward long term thinking,” he said.  “We have come out of our Centennial year excited about Oklahoma and its future.”

 

As far as a pay raise for state employees, Cargill offered hope.

 

“The House leadership team wants to see a pay raise bill for state employees advanced,” he said.  “Even there with an estimated $32 million in excess revenue there are ways to reallocate existing resources to help make this happen.”

 

Cargill ended by saying that it will take creative methods to bring Oklahoma into the new century.

 

“By using fresh ideas, combined with a can do attitude, there is no limit what can be achieved in Oklahoma,” he said.

Posted on Monday, January 14, 2008 by Bud Elder filed under

16 comments (Add your own)

1. Daniel White wrote:
Sorry, but until I see a raise on my check, I won't accept a word this guy or any other politian says. It's sad that I've lost so much confidence and repect in our states leaders and this very very association, OPEA. Five years ago, I thought this could be the job that would support my family and now I find myself wondering why I trusted the state so much. Very sad.

January 14, 2008 @ 3:43 PM

2. Raymond wrote:
It is nice to see that some one at the State Capital is thinking about wanting to give the state workers a pay raise. It is time to bring the state worker up to par with the private sector. We have computer programers who are making far bellow market value, and social workers with masters degrees making less than 30K a year, engineeres who design our roads working for peanuts, all with years of education and making less than a first year teacher in amny cases.
We have a Governor with a one track mind, pay raises for teachers who have failed to educate our children in the simple basics, or even pay raises for his own staff, while touting the lack on monies for a state worker pay raise.

I say that if Speaker Cargill can come through with a pay increase, I know that he will have the gratitude of many state workers.

January 14, 2008 @ 9:03 PM

3. Felicia Harris wrote:
Oklhaoma is the lowest paid state there is. They expect a lot, but not willing to pay the wages for the job. Oklahoma is behind the national level by $5000. They are trying to get us a pay raise of $2700 across the board, but they should consider a plan to balance the pay scale to equal the $5000. Like for instance, $3000 in July and $2000 in December. Then July 2009 give another raise to keep the state employees balanced with the national wages. Oklahoma is not in complaince with the cost of living and there is a lot of families and business struggling out there. There has been in the past of promising raises, but no coming to pass. It is time for our legislative memebers and well as the Govenor to start thinking about the great state of OKLAHOMA. Its time for our raises, so we can build stronger families and support our business.

January 15, 2008 @ 8:52 AM

4. Phillip Bennett wrote:
I am proud to serve the people of our great State working as a Mental Health Professional for the Dept. of Corrections. However, our State Leaders need to be mindful that we have lost significant purchasing power over the past several years due to insufficient pay increases. The only way to maintain a stable work force and cut costs from high employee turnover rates, is to pay fair market value to State Employees. Bringing State Employee Salaries to Market Value will save the State much more money in the long run, than having a high employee turn over rate which involves intensive recruitment and re-training efforts. Do State Employees deserve any less than comparable employees in the private Sector. Do the People of this great State not deserve the High Quality of Services provided by most other States. It is time for our State leaders to rise to the occasion and take responsibility to achieve what they have been elected to do for Oklahoma!! I see OPEA becoming a more powerful influence in Oklahoma, because State Employees are finally banding together for the betterment of our citizens and the welfare of the Families of State Employees.

January 15, 2008 @ 2:27 PM

5. Shelly Robinson wrote:
This may sound cynical- but this is an election year. This year we will get the support of the legislators, not because we are respected or appreciated -but because we represent a large voting portion of Oklahoma. We vote, our friends and families vote- and in order to get our support, they will feel as though making things so that we can more easily support ourselves.

January 16, 2008 @ 6:15 AM

6. William H. wrote:
I agree with Shelly but would add, How much more respect would be get if we were a larger voting block?

January 16, 2008 @ 10:22 AM

7. Joe wrote:
I just heard on the radio that Sandy Garret is wanting 1/2 Billion more dollars this year for Education. As part of her plan is a $2000.00 pay raise for the Teachers in 2008.

56% of the state budget already goes to education, I wonder how long it will be before the the Education budget froces a RIF in state workers to just pay for the teachers.

The words of the speaker is encourging as to a state worker pay raise, but time will tell .

January 16, 2008 @ 5:22 PM

8. Wonder wrote:
Did he sound monotone, like practice from a script? I didn't hear any change in voice when
talking about "how good we are" or how much money
there is to divide between so many needs. Why do
they bring up other states when they speak of government size....each state has their on way of
doing things and don't try to fit us into something else just because it looks different.
Words are easy
Results count!!!!

January 16, 2008 @ 11:05 PM

9. Ken wrote:
Raymond, you hit the nail right on the head.
Here at ODOT there is a tremendous amount of turn over in draftsman, ODOT had 10 new hires last month in just one Division.
It’s perfect for a kid getting out of collage...he finishes his education, comes in to ODOT gets two - three years of experience and leaves for the private sector where the pay is roughly 25% higher to start, much more than the State will pay. If, I didn’t have 17 years in with the State I would do the same.
Basically the Oklahoma tax payer is paying for the training of new talent for the larger Engineering companies.
But hey, that's Government for you.

My insurance (medical, home, car and health) have all gone up at least 15%. The price of gas in the last two years has doubled ($1.38 in March of 05) and all utilities have followed this trend. Because of the increase in gas food and dry goods have all gone up roughly 20%.
We have had to tighten the belt in our home, no extras no going out to eat, no going to the movies, no extra toys for the kids and more. It’s shameful that all State employees can do any more is just plain survive and pay bills.

I guess you have to look at the bright side, in July of 08 minimum wage goes up to $6.55 in July of 09 to 7.25, soon we will be making minimum wage and be eligible for food stamps. Woohoo!

January 17, 2008 @ 10:44 AM

10. Ken wrote:
Sorry, I said Raymond when I ment Phillip.

January 17, 2008 @ 3:00 PM

11. JoAnn wrote:
I know that all state employees would welcome and greatly deserve a raise. This should be done yearly not just during an election year to keep up with the cost of living and other states wages. As a retired state employee, I hope that retirees are not forgotten. We also worked for many years, understaffed and underpaid. We seem to be only thought at election time (if then). I feel that COLA should be given yearly. Retirees could also use help with their insurance. Many people can not afford the insurance premiums. All state employees should remember--what you have today you may retire with tomorrow.

January 18, 2008 @ 4:02 PM

12. c.d. Forman wrote:
I have worked for the odot for 35 years, I'm at the time of my life where I would like to retire. I can't because wages have never been high enough to enable enough savings to be built up to support us during retirement. We are always the last to get a raise, and it's usually not enough to cover increases in our insurance, or we get nothing.

January 23, 2008 @ 11:52 AM

13. Bettina J. Larsen wrote:
Cargill is not known to be a progressive - please check out http://www.okiefunk.com/ before you believe what Cargill says.

Oklahoma taxpayers want a lot of return for little investment.
Call your legislator and tell them you will be watching how they vote and in turn it will determine how you, your family, and friends vote!
Tell them we should have cost of living raises built into the system - anything else is unacceptable.

January 23, 2008 @ 8:03 PM

14. Darryl wrote:
I've been working for the state for 17 years and I can't wait for them to lower the 90 to 80 because I cannot wait to retire and leave this place because the people over at the State Capitol does not care for State Workers and don't let them fool you with them saying they do. If they did they would give us a raise each year so that our families can stop struggly day by day to pay bills. I'm still paying bills from years ago on my credit card. If it wasn't for credit cards I'll be out in the street with my kids. Now its getting to where I have to use my credit cards to pay my bills.
I'm former military for 8 years and college educated and a computer programmer with 3 kids and a wife and I'll probably could qualify for welfare. The only time they will give State Employees a pay raise is when its time to vote for them and the politicians will feed everyone great things for them to hear but nothing happens. When they do give a pay raise you will only get a small portion of it in January and the other half in July, then our benefits will shoot up in cost like our medical & dental so it hardly looks like we get a raise.

Its hard to come to work everyday knowing they do not care for the state workers and all you hear is that they want to give the TEACHERS another pay raise and it seems like they get one every year. Then the teachers make the parents pay for school supplies and then the teachers send so much homework home when my kids say they don't do anything in class to learn it. I have to teach them which I don't mind but come on I'm tired from my work load of working as 3 or 4 people for the State.

I agree our economy will go into a recession especially in Oklahoma because all my money goes into paying for bills. My kids don't have much of a birthday or Christmas because I'm still paying for there things from past years. Now they either get nothing or just 1 present. I can't afford to take them to movies unless its the dollar movies. I don't go out to eat especially at restaurants I can't afford to pay $25 or $30 to feed my family at a restaurant.

For 17 years I've been hearing so many promises buts its all talk. I've been seeing so many long time workers having to stay to work way past there retirment beccause they can't afford to retire and then we get an email that John Doe has past away. We have a Obituary that goes out in the email inside our Agency who passed away.

My goal is not to stay until I'm dead so that I can pay my bills, like everyone else retire early and work some where else FOR A LOT MORE MONEY and then retire.
The younger college students got the idea correct only work 2 or 3 years to get enough work experience and then quit and work for a private industry for double or triple the pay. I'm to old or I would have done the same thing.

There is so many people at our agency that does not want to come to work or they work so hard they work themself to sickness nobody has any leave time. You always see an email someone needs leave donated to them and its a lot of people nobody is motivated to come to work since the Govenor and the legislators do not care to give us a PAY RAISE so that we can quit struggling day by day with our families.

Those people that are standing on the street corners for money are probably state workers needing to help pay for bills or probably is making more then us from doing that.

My daughter will soon make the same as me when she gets a job making minimum wage straight out of high school or still in high school and like
"I said I'm a veteran with a college education" in computer science. Other people like me in the private sector makes like 75,000.00 a year but for the state I'm bringing in $31,000.00 a year.

From hearing all of this for so many years I came to except that Oklahoma is a poor state, "IF" I tell people I work for the State they apologize and feel sorry for me.

I think they should "double" the 2,700.00 give it to us in January and again in July.

January 29, 2008 @ 10:54 AM

15. Darryl wrote:
I forgot to say I also have to go with the cheapest medical and dental insurance for my family which is usually not that good. I cannot afford to go in for a check up since the co-pay is $25 just to be seen so if I take my family that is $125.00 that I don't have because I need it to pay for my bills. My family has not been seen by a doctor for years, now if they went back down to $5 for an office visit when it was years ago then I can take myself which I have very high blood pressure but cannot afford to be seen to get some or pay for it.

Another thing I wished they would do is raise our longivity pay each year but that hasn't been raised in probably over 20 years. My family has never had a vacation because I cannot afford to go anywhere. If we do get the 2,700 then that means we won't get another raise for 3 or 4 years so that means we will be only getting $675 to $900 each year with that raise since we won't get another in 3 to 4 years. It has happened in the past over and over again when we get a raise.

January 29, 2008 @ 11:23 AM

16. wrote:
PLEASE proof read what you write. Your grammar errors do not flatter anyone. I do sympathize with all State employees and think you deserve so much more than what you receive, but try to appear intelligent.

January 31, 2008 @ 3:37 PM

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