State Senate passes $3,000 teacher pay raise plan

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A bill that would give Oklahoma school teachers across-the-board pay raises of $3,000 passed the state Senate.<br/><br/>Senators voted 43-to-2 Wednesday for the measure by Senator

Wednesday, March 29th 2006, 5:53 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A bill that would give Oklahoma school teachers across-the-board pay raises of $3,000 passed the state Senate.

Senators voted 43-to-2 Wednesday for the measure by Senator Stratton Taylor, who says the bill would jump-start teachers' pay toward the regional average. That's a goal of Democratic Governor Brad Henry and others.

The measure, which provides an extra $302-million for schools, was inserted into a state House shell bill and still must be approved by that body before it can go to the governor.

Republican Senators Glenn Coffee and Kathleen Wilcoxson, both of Oklahoma City, also supported the measure.

Taylor says quick action by the state House would allow lawmakers to reach their annual goal of funding schools by April 1st.

He said he hoped leaders of the Republican majority in the state House would accept the plan, but acknowledged there was no agreement at this point.