Rachel Silberstein reports in Capitol Confidential that the four-member panel of current and former comptrollers assigned to decide whether New York lawmakers, statewide elected officials and state department heads get their first raises since 1998 met Nov. 13 and decided they might need outside counsel. The New York State Compensation Committee includes state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, former state Comptroller Carl McCall, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, and CUNY Board of Trustees Chairman Bill Thompson, formerly New York City's comptroller. DiNapoli would get a raise himself, if the commission approves raises. They have until Dec. 10 to make a decision and McCall hinted where they might be going. "One possibility is to phase in the payments. There could be adjustments over a three-year period," McCall said. The commission holds public hearings on the matter in Albany on Nov. 28, and in New York City on Nov. 30. Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.