Ore. gov rescinds Justice Dept. manager raises

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber has intervened to rescind raises of 7 percent to 9 percent that state Attorney General John Kroger gave to top-level managers.

Kroger spokesman Tony Green said some managers were making less than the attorneys they oversee, making it difficult to retain and recruit top lawyers.

The AG’s office had gotten a waiver for the raises from the Department of Administrative Services. But in a Tuesday letter to Kroger, administrative services director Michael Jordan said the same problem exists in other state agencies.

Kitzhaber spokesman Tim Raphael says the governor “is not comfortable” creating exceptions agency by agency.

The attorney general says he respects the governor’s decision.

The Oregonian reports (http://bit.ly/oEC06d) the raises for 23 employees would have cost an estimated $400,000. Non-managerial Justice Department lawyers recently settled for raises of less than 4 percent over two years. Now top managers are expected to receive similar raises.

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Information from: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com