The piece of cheesy, trying-too-hard happiness pictured above is Deby Snodgrass. When she's not pretending to be a realtor with lipstick on her teeth, she's the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department.
Deby made the news recently for receiving a $40,000 (46%) pay raise that bumped her annual salary to $126,000. The raise generated some controversy because a) most state employees haven't received pay raises since 2006, b) it was a $40,000 raise, c) it was a $40,000 raise, and d) it was a $40,000 raise. Did I mention it was a $40,000 raise? I would make an off-color "Who'd she have to _______ for that" joke, but it would be too unrealistic. Other than blackmailing your boss, having powerful friends in high places, or lying on your online dating profile, there's nothing you can do to earn a raise like that.
Snodgrass has obviously received a lot of criticism and unwanted media attention for the hefty pay increase. Therefore, it's not too surprising that the Tourism Department recently issued a press release that touts the economic impact tourism has on Oklahoma. The release lacks substance and fails to put random numbers into a meaningful perspective, but it sure draws attention away from a goddamn $40,000 a year raise. The goldfish pool that is our local media took the bait.
Via KFOR:
Report: Tourism generates $7.2 billion in Oklahoma economy, creates hundreds of jobs
While many Oklahomans may not think of the Sooner State as a tourist destination, a report from a local agency shows that visitors are responsible for generating billions of dollars in our state.
A report by the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department in August shows that visitors spent 6.1 percent more in 2012 than 2011, accounting for a total of $7.2 billion.
Most of that money was spent for transportation, food, lodging and entertainment.
Experts say without tourism, the state’s unemployment rate would have been 4.3 percent higher than it was, reaching almost 9.5 percent.