Teacher pay raise plan clears state House

<br>(Oklahoma City-AP) -- A bill calling for teacher pay raises cleared the state House Thursday. <br><br>Representatives voted 96-to-1 for the bill, sending it back to the state Senate for further consideration.

Thursday, April 15th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- A bill calling for teacher pay raises cleared the state House Thursday.

Representatives voted 96-to-1 for the bill, sending it back to the state Senate for further consideration.

The bill is part of Governor Brad Henry's legislative package to raise teacher salaries in the state to the regional average over a four-year period.

Henry says Oklahoma teachers are paid an average of about $4,000 a year less than the regional average.

Lawmakers have already approved another part of Henry's proposals for teachers, to pay 100% of teacher's health insurance. The governor plans to sign that bill into law on Monday.