Pay raise plan goes through

Intro: The proposal to reject a pay raise plan for state judges and lawmakers died in Senate committee today. Rachel Higginbotham (HIG-in-bah-thum) has more from the state Capitol.

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Missouri senators will receive a pay raise in 2009, even though they didn't get the chance to vote on it.

The pay raise proposed by the state's salary commission includes a four percent salary increase plus a $1200 one-time bonus for state judges, legislators and elected officials.

For judges, the plan takes effect July first of this year.

Senate majority leader and committee chairman Charlie Shields said he didn't think the proposed rejection would have gotten enough support in the Senate anyway.

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Description: "If I don't support something to an ultimate vote, I'm not going to put it to a vote just to get it out of committee, and I think most senators are in that same position."

The Missouri House voted to reject the plan last week, 118 votes to 37.

From Jefferson City, I'm Rachel Higginbotham.

Intro: The proposal to reject a pay raise plan for state judges and lawmakers died in Senate committee today. Rachel Higginbotham (HIG-in-bah-thum) has more from the state Capitol.

RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

The pay raise plan includes a four percent salary increase, plus a $1200 bonus.

Because the motion to reject the plan wasn't approved by a two-thirds vote, the pay raise will automatically take effect in July for judges, and 2009 for legislators and elected officials.

The plan's critics say that state legislators shouldn't vote on their own pay increases.

But Senate majority leader and committee chairman Chalie Shields says the plan passed because of the overwhelming need to raise judges' pay.

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Description: "People wanted to remove the legislators from this, but I think there was generally support for doing something for the judiciary, realizing that they haven't had a raise for a period of time."

The last time Missouri judges received a raise was 2000.

From Jefferson City, I'm Rachel Higginbotham.

Intro: Missouri senators will receive a pay raise in 2009, even though they didn't get a chance to vote on it. Rachel Higginbotham (HIG-in-bah-thum) has more from the state Capitol. RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

The measure to reject a pay raise plan for state judges, lawmakers and elected officials didn't make it out of Senate committee Monday.

Senator Luanne Ridgeway was the only senator to propose that the entire Senate vote on it.

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Description: "I just felt like it needed as much debate as we could possibly give it. It went to the full floor in the House. I'm a proponent of being able to vote on legislation to the extent that we can reasonably get that vote in the Senate.

Under the plan, judges, lawmakers and elected officials will receive a four percent salary increase and a $1200 one-time bonus.

Because the legislature couldn't muster the two-thirds vote it needed to reject the plan, the raise for judges will take effect in July. For lawmakers, 2009.

Last week, the House voted in favor of rejecting the plan 118 votes to 37.

From Jefferson City, I'm Rachel Higginbotham.