By Maria Hickey, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – The Missouri Citizens' Commission on Compensation for Elected Officials heard testimony Monday in St. Louis.
The commission must publish its salary recommendations for statewide elected officials, legislators, and judges by this Friday.
The testimony in St. Louis was all in favor of a raise for Missouri judges, who have not seen a pay raise in six years.
St. Louis County Associate Circuit Judge Mary Pat Schroeder says her $96,000 salary has shrunk as health insurance and cost of living went up.
"As someone said to me as I took the bench seven years ago, 'your paycheck will always be the same; the bad news is, your paycheck will always be the same.' At the time, I laughed. It's not nearly as funny to me now since it's not changed in six years," Schoeder said.
Earlier this month voters approved Amendment Seven, a measure that makes it more difficult for legislators to block salary increase recommendations made by the commission.
Some have complained the ballot language confused voters about what the amendment would do.
Jack Pohrer is the chairman of the Missouri Citizens' Commission on Compensation for Elected Officials.
He doubts there will be much grumbling over salary increases if citizens know that judges have not gotten a raise since 2000.
"I would seriously doubt that most people have not had a raise in seven years," Pohrer said. "And the other thing I'd say is during this entire time the state employees have had raises; all other employees of the state."
Pohrer says previous commissions have recommended pay increases for judges that were not accepted by legislators or not funded.
The commission also heard testimony in Cape Girardeau Monday.