The Missouri state budget is already due for more cuts this year, and that's the reason Republican Sen. Jim Lembke, of St. Louis, cites for filing a resolution to block a recommended pay raise for judges.
The Associated Press reports that "Judges have argued for several years that higher salaries are needed to persuade qualified people to serve as judges instead of working as private-sector attorneys where they might earn more money."
A special commission recommended that Missouri judges should get paid a similar amount to that of federal judges by the beginning of budget year 2013.
That recommendation will automatically go into effect by law unless rejected by two-thirds of the House and Senate by Feb. 1.
