Story Published: Oct 26, 2009 at 9:47 PM PDT
Story Updated: Oct 27, 2009 at 10:21 AM PDT
PORTLAND, Ore. – A taxpayer watchdog group said Monday that former state Sen. Margaret Carter used her position as co-chair on a Senate committee to get a job with a $100,000 pay raise.
Common Sense for Oregon’s Executive Director Ross Day said Carter violated the state’s Constitution by using her votes on the Senate Ways and Means Committee when she voted for HB 2009.
“This certainly is unconstitutional,” Day said. “What it (Constitution) says is that no legislator can fill an office of profit - which that is what this is - that was created during the term that the legislator served.” Day also added, “We will be filing a lawsuit later this week.”
The bill split the Department of Human Services and Day said it helped create Carter’s new position as a DHS deputy director, raising her annual pay from just over $21,000 to almost $122,000.
“You’ve got a legislator who not only did this, who lobbied for a hundred-thousand dollar a year increase, but then she turned around and was a key vote in raising taxes. I mean to me that just smells bad,” Day said.
According to a DHS spokesperson Carter could not be interviewed for this story because she was home sick.
A reporter visited Carter’s Portland home but could not reach her. After the attempt the same DHS spokesperson called the reporter and said she was at the doctor.
The spokesperson said DHS would not respond to questions about Carter’s position because allegations she violated the Constitution are “too bizarre.”
Common Sense for Oregon recently awarded Carter its “Golden Fleece Award” which the group said is given to a “person, politician or government agency responsible for the most notorious – and wasteful – example of spending … .”
The group also named DHS and the governor’s office in its Golden Fleece Award.
Day quoted an Oregonian article where the governor’s office and DHS admitted Carter lobbied them for her new job while she was still a state senator.
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