House panel rejects constitutional amendment to transfer pay‑setting for elected officials to independent commission

Representative Green proposed a constitutional amendment (HB 2-49) to create a 15‑member compensation commission, housed in the legislative auditor's office, to set salaries for elected officials and to apply an automatic consumer-price index adjustment at the start of each term. "The intent is to remove completely remove the legislature from voting on any salary of any elected official by which we have the authority to set their salaries," Green said, describing the commission's structure and nomination process.

Members questioned how appointments would be made, whether private colleges should nominate candidates, and what would happen if the commission recommended pay increases when the legislature lacked budget authority. Representative Thomas said he was concerned about creating an unelected body that could recommend raises without a clear funding mechanism. "What happens if the commission grants a pay raise and we don't have the money to pay for it?" he asked.

Other speakers pressed on conflicts of interest, geographic representation in nominating lists and whether the commission should only make recommendations rather than set pay directly. Representative Shammerhorn said he rarely sees raises denied when legislators bring bills for pay increases and expressed skepticism about removing the legislature from the process.

When the committee called the roll on HB 2-49, the result was six yeas and nine nays; the constitutional amendment will not be reported. Representative Green asked that HB 2-48 (the enabling statute) be deferred; the committee deferred HB 2-48. The transcript records a mix of support and concern, and members said they would consider possible alternative structures such as a commission that only issues recommendations to the legislature.