PAY BILL ADVANCES IN HOUSE

JEFFERSON CITY -- Members of the Missouri House of Representatives Monday gave final approval to a bill that will establish a citizens commission to determine salaries and benefits for judges, legislators and statewide elected officials.

"I think it is inappropriate for us to set our own salary. Every worker in the country would like the opportunity to set their own salary," said Rep. Larry Thomason, D-Kennett, sponsor of the bill. "It takes our ability to set our own pay away from us."

He added, "the whole question is getting the decision out of the hands of the legislature."

Three weeks ago, Thomason brought the bill up on the House floor for modifications, and after some concerns were expressed he laid the bill on the informal calendar to address some concerns raised by other legislators.

Last week, a revised version was given first round approval with little comment.

Under the bill, a 22 member Missouri Citizen's Commission on Compensation for Elected Officials would be created. Nine of the members would be chosen randomly from voter registration lists in each of the state's nine congressional districts, one would be a retired judge appointed by judges of the supreme court, and the others would be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.

The gubernatorial appointees would have to include some people with experience in the field of personnel, two senior citizens, representatives of small and large business, and other professions. All geographic areas of the state would have to be represented.

The first commission would be appointed by the governor by February 1996, and they would begin holding hearings in August. In December 1996, the commission would be required to file a salary and benefits schedule, to take effect with new officeholders coming in during January 1997. The salary commission would not meet again until 1998.

"I think they will look at per diem and mileage rates," said Thomason. "If they take action, that's what they would take action for in the House and Senate. Frankly, I don't think the salary will change at all."

Under Thomason's bill, state legislators would continue to get the same annual cost of living increases as other state employees, which he believes will make it less likely the commission will need to discuss pay hikes for legislators every two years.

"If we leave the cost of living increases in, the commission will feel less of a need to raise our salaries, or consider it, every two years," said Thomason.

Members of the House and Senate receive $23,489 each year. Since 1984 when legislator pay was $18,000 a year, legislators have been getting cost of living hikes like other state employees.

Having a citizens commission will eliminate some of the public confusion that exists now. He said the public often is confused between action taken in Washington, D.C., by members of Congress when they vote themselves pay raises.

In addition, Thomason said legislators are often forced to look at the big picture and cannot easily justify larger pay adjustments to statewide officials even though they know a higher salary is appropriate.

For example, Thomason said the governor's salary of $91,615 is hardly enough when compared to the responsibilities of the office. Most college presidents make much higher salaries than the governor.

"The governor and other statewide officials need a salary that allows them to live the position," he said. "People think because someone is governor, everything is free, but that is not the case. The job of governor, and all statewide offices, carries with it a lot of personal expense.

"We would not single out the governor for an increase, because we try to look at the broad spectrum. But the commission could do that, and it would be appropriate for them to do that."

Thomason also believes that having legislators set pay for judges leads to some unnecessary tension between the judicial and legislative branches.

"Judges have always had a feeling that the legislature slights them because they have to make rulings that go against things we've done," he said. "They have the idea the legislature is always against judges and slight them in salaries and benefits. With this system, there is no politics in our decision or decisions they might render that would affect something we have done."

Thomason pointed out that three states have a similar mechanism for setting salaries of elected officials. Others are considering comparable action.

"Apparently the movement to let citizens set salaries is gaining popularity," he said.