Sen. Pemberton praises COLAs for public retirees

Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee, released the following statement Friday after passage of House Bill 3350.  The bill will provide a 2% cost-of-living adjustment for those who have been retired from public service for 2-5 years and a 4% increase for those who have been retired for more than 5 years. Pemberton was the original principal Senate author of HB 3350 along with Rep. Avery Frix, R-Muskogee, who was the principal House author. 

“This has been a long-time coming, and I’m absolutely thrilled for my fellow retired educators and other public servants. This is an issue Rep. Frix and I have worked so hard on since getting into office.  These people have dedicated their lives in the classroom, protected our homes and communities, ensured justice in the courtroom, and helped meet the many needs of Oklahomans through our state agencies. They deserve our utmost gratitude and respect.

“Oklahoma’s state retirees haven’t had a COLA since 2008, yet inflation has increased 26% since then, so their retirement checks cover less and less each year.  With the ever-increasing costs of groceries, gas, utilities and prescriptions, Oklahoma’s state retirees are struggling, and they shouldn’t have to.  This is a great first step, and I hope the legislature continues working to further help these retirees in the future.

“Our state retirees dedicated years of their lives in service to Oklahoma and we need to show them through regular COLAs that we haven’t forgotten their dedication.”

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For more information, contact: Sen. Pemberton: (405) 521-5533 or Dewayne.Pemberton@oksenate.gov

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