Senate panel OKs pay change

Legislators would no longer vote on their own pay raises under aresolution approved by the Senate Finance Committee.

Committee members Monday also unanimously endorsed a bill thatwould require a woman to wait 24 hours before receiving an abortion.

The pay raise resolution would require voters to change WestVirginia's Constitution so pay raise decisions are made by anindependent board rather than the 134-member Legislature.

The Citizens Legislative Compensation Commission, with membersappointed by the governor, currently recommends raises but has noauthority to implement them. The Legislature has not had an increasein its $15,000-a-year salary since 1995.

In 1999, the commission recommended that lawmakers receive $18,000a year. Gov. Bob Wise also recommended a similar raise in 2001.Senators and delegates rejected both proposals. Lawmakers, however,did vote in 2001 to increase the amount they receive for dailyexpenses and to attend interim meetings.

A divided committee backed the resolution offered by SenateMajority Whip Billy Wayne Bailey.

The Wyoming County Democrat said it was unfair to turn the salaryvotes into a political football.

"If you want a pay raise, vote for it and then stand up to theelectorate," said Senate Minority Leader Vic Sprouse, R-Kanawha."Don't hand it off to an obscure commission so you can escape theresponsibility."

Voters would have to approve the constitutional change in the 2004general election. Sprouse said the measure would be lucky to winsupport from 10 percent of the electorate. The resolution moves tothe full Senate.

The abortion bill would require providers to tell women a daybefore the procedure about alternatives and medical risks, as well asabout a state Web site with pictures of fetuses in various stages ofdevelopment.

Doctors who violate the law once could spend a year in jail andlose their license for 90 days. Repeat violators could be foundguilty of a felony and receive five years in jail along with a five-year license suspension.

Wise vetoed a bill last year because it contained similarprovisions involving doctors. Language protecting physician privacyhas been added this year to assuage Wise's concerns.

The state would be required to spend $275,000 on the Web site andnew reporting requirements.