Your Opinion: Questions about state salary commission

Dear Editor:

The News Tribune editorial (Our Opinion Feb. 1) reflects how our spineless Missouri senators were shamed into blocking a pay increase for themselves and other elected officials. I doubt that these officials will come forward with more detail but let me suggest some questions taxpayers and the NT should be asking.

Voters apparently approved the amendment creating the Missouri Citizen's Commission on Compensation for Elected Officials in 1994. Which legislators and parties introduced the legislation proposing the amendment? Who appoints the commission members? Why so many (21?) members? How much, if any, are they paid and are travel, lodging and expenses included? What were the commission's reasons for their 8-11 percent recommended increases? What has been the history of biennial commission recommendations (and inherent legislative action on same) since inception?

Since the issue of adequacy of legislator pay has been raised, perhaps a review of legislative pay and allowances should be aired. Taxpayers should be informed about pay, travel, lodging and allowances for office staffers and other expenses.

Finally, we come to the state employees who have apparently been asked to come to work each day with little regard for a pay increase. Why did voters trust a commission to "be fair" to legislators and then assume legislators would be fair to state employees?

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