NCBA-Backed Citizens' Commission Proposed

Article Date: Thursday, March 19, 2009

Written By: Russell Rawlings

Sen. Dan Clodfelter

The North Carolina Bar Association is pleased to announce the introduction of legislation calling for the establishment of a permanent citizens’ commission to recommend compensation for all elected state officials.

Sen. Dan Clodfelter (D-Mecklenburg) and Sen. Fletcher Hartsell (R-Cabarrus/Iredell), principal sponsors, introduced Senate Bill 292 today.

Co-sponsors of the legislation are Republican Sens. Stan Bingham, Richard Stevens, Jerry Tillman and Peter Brunstetter and Democratic Sens. John Snow, Eleanor Kinnaird, William Purcell, David Hoyle, Bob Atwater, Steve Goss, Charles Albertson, Clark Jenkins and Don Davis.

The bi-partisan measure would establish a body known as the North Carolina Citizens’ Commission on Compensation for Elected State Officials.

Sen. Fletcher Hartsell

The 25-member commission would also include one representative from each of the state’s 13 congressional districts, selected by lot by the Secretary of State from among registered voters in each district.

The General Assembly will appoint six members of the commission upon recommendation, three each, of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Speaker Pro Tempore of the Senate. The remaining six members will be appointed, three each, by the Governor and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

The legislation originated with the NCBA. Support for this measure has also been expressed by leadership of the State Employees Association of North Carolina, the North Carolina Association of Educators, the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the North Carolina Advocates for Justice and the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys.

“The establishment of this commission would represent a significant step toward assuring equitable compensation for our elected officials in a fair and impartial manner,” said John R. Wester, president-elect of the NCBA. “As leaders and decision-makers, the individuals who hold these positions are essential to the preservation of good government in our state.”

Commission members will compare the relationship of all forms of compensation of elected officials with that of other executive and managerial officials in North Carolina and other states. The broad composition of this body is in keeping with its responsibility for evaluating salaries and compensation packages of elected officials from each of North Carolina’s three co-equal branches of government.

Within the executive branch, the commission will adopt salary schedules for the Governor and members of the Council of State. From the legislative branch, it will adopt compensation schedules for elected members and officers of the General Assembly, excluding the lieutenant governor who is a member of the Council of State.

Within the judicial branch, the commission will adopt salary schedules for justices and judges of the appellate and trial courts, district attorneys and clerks of Superior Court.

Officers and employees of state or local government, registered lobbyists and immediate family members thereof will be ineligible to serve on the commission.