FIRST REGULAR SESSION

House Concurrent Resolution No. 6

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1045L.01I

AN ACT

Relating to disapproving the recommendations of the Missouri Citizens' Commission on Compensation for Elected Officials.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

            Whereas, Article XIII, Section 3 of the Missouri Constitution charges the Missouri Citizens' Commission on Compensation for Elected Officials with setting the amount of compensation paid to statewide elected officials, legislators, and judges; and

            Whereas, the Constitution establishes the number of commissioners at twenty- two, with twelve appointed by the Governor, nine appointed by the Secretary of State, and one by the Missouri Supreme Court; and

            Whereas, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan and the Missouri Supreme Court made their constitutionally required appointments, but Governor Matt Blunt ignored his constitutional duty and failed to make any appointments to the Commission; and

            Whereas, with a majority of the Commission positions vacant, the ten commissioners appointed by the Secretary of State and the Missouri Supreme Court proceeded with the task of evaluating compensation for statewide elected officials, legislators, and judges; and

            Whereas, by a vote of 9-0, which was three short of the twelve votes needed for a majority, the remaining commissioners voted to grant statewide elected officials, legislators, and all state judges the same pay increases, if any, granted to rank-and-file state workers during the 2010 and 2011 fiscal years, with associate circuit judges receiving an additional $1,500 in each of those fiscal years regardless of whether other state employees receive pay raises; and

            Whereas, the commissioners further recommended that all state judges be paid a per diem for attending the annual Missouri Judicial Conference equal to the per diem paid to legislators when the General Assembly is in session; and

            Whereas, the country is in the midst of a continuing economic recession that began in December 2007 and that many consider to be the worst national economic crisis since the Great Depression; and

            Whereas, the State of Missouri is facing a $342 million shortfall in the fiscal year 2009 state budget that could require immediate cuts in state spending and government services; and

            Whereas, the State of Missouri likely will also face a financial crisis during the 2010 fiscal year and perhaps the 2011 fiscal year; and

            Whereas, the future financial uncertainty makes providing pay increases for legislators, statewide elected officials, and state judges a low budget priority; and

            Whereas, the Commission's recommendations shall take effect unless disapproved by the General Assembly through a concurrent resolution passed by two-thirds majorities in each legislative chamber before February 1, 2009:

            Now, therefore, be it resolved by the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-fifth General Assembly, First Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, that the recommendations of the Missouri Citizens' Commission on Compensation of Elected Officials be disapproved; and

            Be it further resolved that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare a properly inscribed copy of this resolution for Governor Jay Nixon.

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