IN SHORT TIME, PANEL ESTABLISHED TO SET SALARIES OF STATE OFFICIALS HAS PROVEN IT'S NOT NEEDED

The Citizens Commission on Compensation for Elected Officials, a panel that sets salaries for lawmakers, judges and statewide elected officials, was supposed to have taken controversy out of state lawmakers voting salaries for themselves and other officials, but it hasn't done so. There now is an effort under way to repeal a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 1994 that established the commission.

The truth is the commission pretty well recommends pay increases for all officeholders every two years, and those recommendations have automatically become effective because the Legislature hasn't voted to reject them. The result has been that lawmakers no longer have to vote pay raises for themselves, a touchy subject with constituents, because they become automatic without legislative consideration.

Voters apparently thought the commission would be a good idea to keep rising salaries under control, but it hasn't done so. Voters should be given an opportunity to reconsider the commission and putting the responsibility of granting salary increases back in the hands of the Legislature.