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House defeats bill to delay local elected-official pay increases until after elections
Summary
House rejected House Bill 195, sponsored by Representative Don E. Bush, which would have made city and county elected officials' salary increases take effect only after the next election; the measure failed 32–35 after debate over fairness and reciprocity with the legislature.
House Bill 195, introduced by Representative Don E. Bush, would have required that local elected officials' salary increases not take effect until the next election. Bush told colleagues the change would align local practice with the legislature’s longstanding approach: "The only change is that the salary does not take effect until the next election."
Opponents said the proposal was well-intentioned but uneven. Representative Howard said he supported the concept in principle but would vote against the bill because it imposed restrictions on other bodies that the legislature did not accept for itself: "I have given up voting for restrictions ... that we are unwilling to put on ourselves." Howard said he would have supported an amendment to include the legislature under the same rule.
Bush acknowledged the concern and invited friendly amendments, but the House proceeded to a recorded vote. The Clerk announced that HB 195 received 32 affirmative and 35 negative votes and therefore failed to pass the House. The sponsor said amendments could still be considered before the measure goes to the Senate, but the House did not advance the bill in this session.
