Alva Review-Courier -

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Most retired school teachers, firefighters and other public workers would receive their first pension increase in 12 years under a bill that sailed through the Oklahoma House on Tuesday.

Members voted 99-0 for the bill to give a 4% cost-of-living allowance, or COLA, to about 85% of public retirees. Under the bill's tiered approach, those who retired between two and five years ago would see a 2% boost, while those retired for less than two years would get no increase.

Medical insurance, prescription drugs and utilities have all increased dramatically in the last decade, sai...