JEFFERSON CITY — Most Missourians are probably not aware of the state’s unique process for recommending pay raises for elected officials. The Citizens’ Commission on Compensation for Elected Officials is a statewide group of 21 members selected or appointed by various methods to propose pay adjustments for the state Legislature, statewide elected officials, and judges. Aside from the fact that I don’t think the state needs a commission to make these decisions about the pay of public officials, the most frustrating part of the process is that the pay recommendations of the commission automatically go into effect unless two-thirds of the Legislature rejects them. Folks running for office know what the job pays before they get there. I knew what the job paid when I filed to run for the Senate. Public service isn’t about the salary. To me, it’s about the great privilege of representing my friends and neighbors, protecting our constitutional rights, and defending the principles we value in southwest Missouri. Our Founding Fathers intended a citizen legislature, not people trying to enrich themselves at the expense of the taxpayers.
Recently, the commission recommended an 8 percent salary hike for statewide elected officials and a 2.5 percent raise for lawmakers in both 2018 and 2019. Taken together, that would total about $771,000 in 2018 and $1 million in 2019. At a time when the state budget requires fiscal responsibility, it is the height of irresponsibility to increase the salaries of elected officials. Many Missourians are still waiting for the oft-promised, but little experienced, economic recovery our previous president bragged about. Their salaries have remained stagnant and their home values, in many cases, haven’t fully recovered. Raising the pay of lawmakers, judges, and statewide officials is out-of-touch and, frankly, an insult to hardworking Missourians. Rejecting the pay raise requires the Legislature to pass a resolution by a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate. The House already voted overwhelmingly against the pay raise and, if given the opportunity, the Senate will do so next week. It is my pledge to the people of the 29th District that I won’t vote to raise my own pay. I never have and never will. The bottom line is, we shouldn’t have career legislators and we shouldn’t pay them like it’s a career.
On another note, last week saw one of the greatest and most enduring characteristics of the American political system: the peaceful transfer of power. For most of human history, despots and dictators struggled to maintain power at the expense of the people while many, including our fellow Americans, gave their lives to secure the power of the people to choose their own leaders. That is a remarkable event. It is significant. In spite of that, a handful of agitators forgot or ignored the great privilege it is to live in the greatest country on Earth and, instead, think protesting and destroying property is more important than addressing the real problems facing our country.
I support free speech and the right to disagree with others, but I don’t see how any sensible American can support the destruction of property and the outrageous and disgraceful comments hurled at law enforcement and at our president. While many strongly disagreed with President Obama and opposed his policies, I don’t recall violent protests and destruction of property eight years ago at his first inauguration or four years later at his second. In our political system, you disagree by voting and you respect the law. What happened on the streets of Washington, D.C., was senseless and lawless behavior and does nothing to unify us. As Teddy Roosevelt once said, “complaining about a problem without proposing a solution is called whining”. The America I know doesn’t whine, it finds solutions to problems. Most Americans and Missourians agree and stand ready to support our new President, Congress, and Governor. I stand with them and am excited about the opportunities ahead.
As always, I welcome your ideas, questions and concerns about Missouri government. You may contact me at the State Capitol as follows: (573) 751-1480, david.sater@senate.mo.gov or by writing to Sen. David Sater, Missouri State Capitol, Room 416, Jefferson City, MO 65101.