Rep. Burlison opposes pay raise for elected officials

Last edited 8:25 a.m., Dec. 3, 2014

With the date to begin prefiling legislative bills coming next week, Missouri Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Springfield, said he plans to co-sponsor a resolution to reject proposed pay raises for elected officials.

Burlison and expected co-sponsor Rep. Mark Parkinson, R-St. Charles, are responding to a recommendation by the Citizens' Commission on Compensation for Elected Officials to increase pay by 8 percent for most elected officials and by 11 percent for state representatives and senators in fiscal years 2016 and 2017. According to a news release from Burlison’s office, the commission meets every two years to evaluate the compensation for Missouri’s elected officials.

Under state statutes, the commission’s recommendation automatically takes effect unless two-thirds of the General Assembly reject the proposed increase by Feb. 1.

“Taxpayer dollars are to be wisely invested in the priorities that matter most to Missouri families, such as education and public safety, and not for elected officials to put more money in their own pockets,” Burlison said in the release. “Elected officials must live within their means just like the people they are fortunate enough to represent.”

Burlison said he anticipates colleagues in the House of Representatives would support the measure to reject pay increases when the session starts Jan. 7.

Legislators can begin prefiling bills Dec. 1.