Pay raise ignites debate in House
Sean Grove, senior international business major and intern for Rep. Ron Richard (R-Joplin), sits at Richard’s desk in the Capitol and conducts research on upcoming bills. This is just one duty assigned to Grove on a daily basis. There are five Missouri Southern students serving as legislative interns this spring.
After a recommendation of increasing wages for all statewide elected officials, legislatures and judges by 4 percent plus $1200, the House of Representatives passed a resolution to disapprove the raise.
On Jan. 24, the House broke out in discussion that lasted more than two hours regarding whether the resolution should be passed.
One Representative made the argument that the resolution had not been on the calendar for a full day as it should, but the comment was disregarded.
The point was also made that the legislators already make more than those in Arkansas, Kansas and Iowa so there is no reason for a raise for the legislative body. Members currently make approximately $31,000 per year. But one representative disagreed with the fact that their salary was already enough because in the past some representatives have tried to live solely on that income alone and have had a hard time getting by.
But the biggest argument for not passing the resolution was to increase pay for judges.
“It’s been seven years since the judges have received a pay raise,” said Rep. John Burnett (D-Kansas City). “Missouri ranks dead last in paying our judges compared to all of the adjoining states.”
He also mentioned the fact that prosecuting attorneys and other court-related occupations receive raises according to what the judges make.
Another Kansas City representative mentioned the fact that traffic court judges in Kansas City that are paid by the city make more than Supreme Court justices of Missouri.
Minority House Whip Connie Johnson (D-St. Louis) said some representatives are basing their decisions on the fact that they don’t like some judges personally, and refer to Missouri judges as the bottom 10 percent of their class.
“We may not agree with their qualifications or how they were appointed so we don’t want them to get a raise,” Johnson said. “But when we go into court we should be confident that we will receive justice. And we won’t get that from a judge who is disgruntled because he can’t make ends meet.
“So we should take care of our judges.”
After the debate dragged on, clearing most of the floor, the speaker of the House called back the “core” of representatives to vote. The resolution passed 118 -37. Now the resolution will go to the Senate.
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