Given the opportunity, wouldn’t we all vote for pay raises?

It’s a part of service in the Maine Legislature, but that body seems ready to relinquish it. A bill from Rep. John Tuttle, D-Sanford, proposes creating an independent panel – the State Compensation Commission – to decide lawmakers’ wages in the future.

Such oversight would rectify a conflict of interest, one which makes politicians and the public uncomfortable, because the employees dictate their wages for part-time jobs they choose to undertake.

Looking deeper, however, this proposal, LD 1814, underscores troubling thinking in Augusta, which believes difficult decisions should be entrusted with independent panels rather than within the Legislature. Putting touchy issues into the hands of others doesn’t guarantee the right decision will be made.

In fact, it sends the message the Legislature shouldn’t be trusted to make the right one.

This movement seems to have started with the Brookings Institution report, Charting Maine’s Future, an insightful investigation into the state of Maine that’s exercised monstrous influence over public policy since its introduction.

The report showed Mainers that perhaps answers to the state’s ills lie outside government, and fresh eyes are needed. As appraisers, the Brookings Institution has the finest pedigree; no better association of policy wonks and wizards could have examined Maine.

Part of its recommendations was an independent commission on downsizing state government, akin to the federal government’s Base Realignment and Closure Commission, a notion that ran afoul of Maine’s constitution.

Sen. John Nutting, D-Leeds, revived the idea with LD 1021, which would create a “Commission to Lower the Cost of State Government” to recommend $30 million in savings. The bill was tabled by the State and Local Government Committee following a work session on April 4.

While the attraction of independent reviews is undeniable, the Legislature shouldn’t be quick to entrust work that rightfully belongs in its own hands to others. The public elects representatives to make hard choices, not impanel committees to do it for them. This is a faded facsimile of progress.

If $30 million should be trimmed, lawmakers should cut it. If wages should be increased, they should decide. That’s what they are elected to do – make difficult decisions for the benefit of Maine.

If they can’t do this, it’s hard to argue they deserve a raise.