OKMULGEE – A bill passed by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation National Council is now on Principal Chief David Hill’s desk, waiting to be vetoed or signed into law. The bill was adopted during the Regular Session on Saturday, May 16. Adopted by a vote of 10-5, the bill will raise each representative’s annual salary to $80,000 and increase the speaker’s annual salary to $99,000. If the bill is signed into law by Chief Hill, it will add a $310,405 supplemental appropriation to the National Council’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget.
The bill was sponsored by Representative Sandra Golden and co-sponsored by Representatives Mary Crawford, James Factor, William Lowe, Anna Marshall, Cody Phillips, Darrell Proctor, and Lucian Tiger. Representatives Dode Barnett, Galen Cloud, Charles McHenry, Robyn Whitecloud, and Second Speaker Thomasene Osborn voted no on the bill.
According to the legislation, the council and the speaker’s salaries last increased in 2014, and it points out that the tribe’s population has increased by over 30,000 citizens.
Per the legislation, a compensation analysis was conducted, comparing the council’s annual salaries to the median annual salaries of other legislative members from Oklahoma Tribes. During the discussion, Rep. Golden explained that the compensation analysis was conducted by an organization that had previously worked with other Tribes. The organization is unnamed in the legislation.
The legislation quotes the analysis, which found the average median annual salary of a full-time Tribal legislative member ranges from $106,314.24 to $177,697.29, and the average median annual salary of a part-time Tribal legislative member ranges from $67,692.34 to $106,625.55. The average median annual salary of a full-time speaker ranges from $158,341.19 to $262,183.08; part-time salaries range from $115,589.07 to $191,393.65.
Rep. Golden argued during the discussion that this bill is necessary to attract and retain qualified citizens to elected council positions.
“I’m sure each member has the same concern as citizens. They didn’t want this to be arbitrary, and it’s not. I believe all the general standards of contracts have been met. People want to trust that we have a process,” Rep. Golden said.
Second Speaker Osborn remarked during the session that she asked citizens for their thoughts on the bill; half were in favor, and half were against. She reported she has not received calls from citizens inquiring about the raise. She also had concerns about whether the FY 26 budget change would affect social programs reliant on American Rescue Plan Act funds.
“I believe the National Council needs a raise, but maybe not that much. Yes, I’m in favor of the raise. There are 16 of us who sit at this table, with one salary, excluding the speaker. I can only speak for myself. I know what I do, what I’ve done, and what I’ll continue to do, whatever the outcome is,” Second Speaker Osborn said.
Rep. Whitecloud argued that the council should meet with each chartered community to gather input on the bill before voting on it. Rep. Whitecloud made a motion to amend NCA 26-071, which would go into effect in January 2027. She said if the raises were distributed mid-term, it would not comply with what was asked of Chief Hill and Second Chief Beaver. The vote to amend the bill failed 6-9.
The bill also updates the law to state that council members will not be reimbursed for mileage except for out-of-state travel when an MCN fleet car is not used. Council representatives will be authorized to receive reimbursement for overnight lodging expenses.
A similar bill, NCA 25-125, was adopted by the National Council at the December 20, 2025, Regular Session by a vote of 13-1. The legislation stipulated that raises would not go into effect until 2028. That bill was vetoed by Chief Hill on Tuesday, Jan. 6.
Citizens React
Dr. Lahoma Schultz (Mvskoke) is an associate member of the Muscogee Indian Community and has been vocal about her thoughts on the council raises. She even shared a Facebook post on Monday, May 20, with an email template to send to Chief Hill recommending that he veto NCA 26-071. She described feeling disappointed by the bill’s adoption because she believes there are bigger problems affecting elders and young families that need to be addressed. Specifically, those currently struggling with economic hardship.
“I was hoping they (The National Council) would consider our elders in need, our families, our young, single mothers who are raising children on salaries that are much less than what they (The National Council) are receiving in salary for their part-time jobs,” Schultz told Mvskoke News. “My heart really goes out to those young mothers. I know they’re struggling. My heart goes out to the elders because I know they’re struggling.”
Jeff Francis II (Mvskoke) is a member of the Checotah community. He described the bill’s passage as “quick but not surprising.” Francis, who ran for an MCNNC seat in 2025, has also discussed the legislation on social media with MCN citizens. Francis remarked to Mvskoke News that no council representatives appeared at his community to discuss the bill before it was put to a vote. He believes that it shouldn’t be out of the question for council members to receive raises, but it shouldn’t be done in the middle of their fiscal year.
“I think the National Council deserves a raise. I think that $80,000 is a little high, and it should not be done mid-term. They’re part-time, but they’re requesting full-time pay. Are we going to get full-time representation?” Francis said.
Lisa Deere (Mvskoke) lives in Broken Arrow. Deere has also been vocal on social media in her opposition to the bill.
Deere described to Mvskoke News her reaction to the bill’s quick passage through committee and full council as “appalling.” Deere said she attended the Business, Finance, and Justice committee meeting where the bill was introduced, but she did not hear an argument that persuaded her that the raises were necessary. She believes that without community input on the raises, she feels suppressed.
“No one defended it or spoke up on why they needed this raise. There’s no communication with the citizens,” Deere said.
Schultz remarked that she is not opposed to the raises if the argument can be made that they are prudent. However, she said that after speaking with representatives on the matter, she hasn’t heard “anything of substance.”
Schultz and Francis agreed that the new salaries are high for a part-time position.
Schultz and Deere both stated that they want Chief Hill to veto the bill.
Per code, Chief Hill has 10 days from the day the bill is received by his office to either sign it into law or veto it. Mvskoke News reached out to Chief Hill’s Office for comment. They did not provide a statement at the time this article was published, May 20. If the bill is signed into law, it will take effect on Monday, June 1.
