Senator suggests pay cut to help with budget

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- With the fortunes of a bill to tap into a state emergency fund faltering, one senator became more serious about a measure temporarily freezing lawmaker salaries and benefits.

Sen. James Mathewson, D-Sedalia, on Thursday offered a resolution in which lawmakers would give up two months pay along with their daily living allowances and office expenses upon failure of the Rainy Day bill.

The Senate approved a bill 31-2 earlier this week. But House Republican opposition had delayed a vote in that chamber Thursday evening.

To pass, the legislation requires a two-thirds majority vote of both the Senate and House.

Gov. Bob Holden has proposed the use of $120 million from the savings fund to help cover an expected $230 million shortfall in the fiscal 2002 budget, which ends June 30.

Mathewson's resolution noted that the House "has yet to act to spare our state and our citizens unnecessary financial chaos and humiliation."

State budget officials said that if lawmakers don't approve use of the Rainy Day Fund there could be additional cost-cutting measures, including furloughs for state workers.

Mathewson said in an interview that his bill was more important than ever because of likely cuts in other parts of state government.

"I was trying to send a message with my deed. Now I am going to be very serious about trying to pass my deed," Mathewson said.

Mathewson said he hoped his resolution would show taxpayers that lawmakers are willing to make sacrifices.

"I'm not grandstanding here. This is a serious situation we have and I think we ought to deal with it," Mathewson said during earlier floor debate.

The resolution was referred to the Senate Rules Committee, headed by Senate Majority Leader Bill Kenney, R-Lee's Summit.

"We'll have a committee hearing and, if it makes it out, we'll put it on the calendar," Kenney said. "This is a serious issue."

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Legislative pay bill is SCR76 (Mathewson).

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Missouri Legislature: htt://www.moga.state.mo.us