CCS/HCS/SS/SS#3/SJR 35 - This joint resolution, if approved by the voters, would revise the Missouri Citizen's Commission on Compensation for Elected Officials. The Commission, created in 1994, sets salaries for judges, statewide elected officials and members of the General Assembly. Under the current provisions, the Commission may propose a different salary every two years and the General Assembly may disapprove of the recommendations in total, and if not disapproved, any such recommendations are subject to appropriations. In 1997, the General Assembly disapproved of the recommendations. The Supreme Court subsequently found that disapproval flawed but the salaries remained unchanged because money was not appropriated to fund the increases. In 1999, the recommendations of the Commission took effect and were funded but the Governor vetoed the increases, based upon his reading of the Supreme Court's decision (above).

The resolution changes two features of the current amendment. First, if this resolution is approved by the voters, the General Assembly would no longer have the authority to disapprove of the Commission's recommendations. Second, all of the recommendations would be subject to appropriations just as are the salaries of all other state employees.
DAVID VALENTINE