Every election year, it seems, the issue of elected officials voting for their own raises comes up in an advertisement or two. In Missouri, the process starts with a salary commission, and that group has scheduled meeting around the state seeking input from citizens:

FENTON, Mo. — The Missouri Citizens’ Commission on Compensation for Elected Officials has scheduled three public hearings at which it will take comment from members of the public regarding compensation for statewide elected officials, state legislators and state judges. The hearings are scheduled for:

9-11 a.m. Tuesday, November 18 in Kansas City
Kansas City Library, First Floor meeting room, 10th & Baltimore

7-9 p.m. Tuesday, November 18 in Springfield
Springfield-Greene County Library, Midtown Carnegie Branch, Upstairs
meeting room, 397 Central St.

5-7 p.m. Monday, November 24 in St. Louis
Old Post Office, Gallery Level, 815 Olive St.

Citizens are invited to submit comments during the hearings, in writing or in person. Those who wish to speak should be brief, so everyone who wishes to make comments will have the opportunity to do so during the timeframe scheduled for each hearing. Citizens also may submit written comments to commission Chairman Tim Hufker via postal mail in care of Centrics, 2275 Cassens Drive, Suite 130, Fenton, MO 63026, or via e-mail at thufker@centrics.com. All comments must be received no later than noon Tuesday, November 25.

Once the commission forwards its recommendations to the Legislature, it takes a two-thirds majority of the House and Senate to override the recommendation, which is why the raises more often than not go into effect. Will this year’s tough economic times change that?

We’ll see …