Pubdate: Thu, 10 Nov 2005
Source: Olympian, The (WA)
Copyright: 2005, The Olympian
Contact: http://www.theolympian.com/forms/lettrfrm.shtml
Website: http://www.theolympian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/319
Author: Associated Press

OREGON LAWMAKER WITH METH CHARGE GIVES RAISES AS SHE LEAVES LEGISLATURE

CORVALLIS, Ore. -- State Rep. Kelley Wirth, who is set to resign next 
week after being charged with methamphetamine possession, has spent 
her last weeks in office awarding raises to her staff, including her mother.

Records obtained by The Oregonian show that Wirth has listed her 
mother, Kathleen Panknin, as an aide for more than two years. Wirth 
paid her mother $3,000 a month July 1 and raised it to $3,500 in 
mid-October. Last week, Wirth submitted papers to raise her mother's 
pay to $6,500 a month.

Two other staff members got raises from $500 a week to $750 a week as 
of Nov. 1.

House Minority Leader Jeff Merkley, D-Portland, said the spending was 
inappropriate and he has asked Wirth to rescind the raises.

But Wirth, D-Corvallis, defended the raises Wednesday in an interview 
with a Portland television station.

"My staff earned it," she told KATU.

"I don't think there's a single staff member in this place that 
doesn't earn a hell of a lot more than we pay them and that's all I'm 
gonna say," she added. "And if any legislator wants to say that these 
people don't earn the money that they get, plus some, then so be it."

Oregon legislators get $33,228 in taxpayer money to pay for office 
staff and supply costs between legislative sessions. Legislators are 
allowed to pay their staff whatever they want as long as they don't 
exceed their budget.

Wirth, 40, a single mother of two young daughters, announced her 
resignation from the Legislature on Oct. 14, a day after being cited 
for possession of what Salem police said was a small amount of 
methamphetamine found in her car. Her resignation is to take effect Tuesday.

Wirth, who pleaded not guilty to the drug charge, is recovering from 
injuries suffered when she was struck by a car driven by a woman who 
says Wirth was having an affair with her boyfriend.
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