The new director of the state's embattled Martin Luther King Commission can expect a bump in his pay, thanks to legislators.

The personnel committee of the Arkansas Legislative Council on Thursday recommended increasing director DuShun Scarbrough's pay from $44,951 to $59,000.

The commission voted last month to hire Scarbrough and pay him the higher amount, but the salary required approval from the Legislative Council, which is expected to accept the recommendation.

Scarbrough's hiring was marked by infighting among commission members over his appointment and disputes over the legal status of some members. Gov. Mike Beebe at the time called the public disputes an embarrassment to the state.   

      (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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