Commission on Compensation for Elected Officials Collects Public Testimony

The Citizens’ Commission on Compensation for Elected Officials is rushing to meet a December 1st deadline for making recommendations on salary increases for statewide elected officials, state lawmakers, and state judges. It’s held one of four hearings required to collect input from the public. Commission Chairman Jack Pohrer says it will be an abitious schedule to stick to over the next week or so, but it has to be done. Retired Court of Appeals Judge Paul Simon, a Commission member, says it is important to at least provide judges with cost of living increases, so that Missouri has the most competent people sitting on the Bench. The first of the meetings was held in Jefferson City, with the next three meetings scheduled for Kansas City on Friday, and St. Louis and Cape Girardeau on Monday. The Commission returns to Jefferson City, Wednesday of next week, to work on its report.