Who Deserves A Pay Raise?

House Democrats say Governor Matt Blunt should veto a nearly $10,000 pay increase for himself included in the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

“Given the governor’s performance in office, he quite simply hasn’t earned a $10,000 pay hike,” said state Rep. J.C. Kuessner, D-Eminence. “He shouldn’t be putting more taxpayer money in his own pocket when he refuses to provide adequate funding for health care and education.”

Starting July 1st, Blunt's salary is slated to rise to $129,922 a year from the current $120,087. That's an 8 percent raise.

The House of Representatives in January passed a resolution rejecting the raises for elected officials by a vote of 118-37. The measure, however, died in a Senate committee.

State lawmakers previously had the authority to strip pay raises from the budget. But in November, Amendment 7 included language that strips the General Assembly of its discretion in funding the compensation commission's recommendations.

To be fair, the Governor isn't the only one up for a raise. Six statewide elected officials will get pay hikes. They are included in House Bill 12.