The pay raise issue continues

As you know, I have been an outspoken critic of legislators receiving a pay raise this year. Including a cost of living increase (COLA), legislators will receive almost a 14% pay hike which I believe is unacceptable, especially given our Illinois economy and the fact that we haven't balanced the budget and are requesting other state employees and agencies to accept major budget cuts. I intend to submit legislation in the Fall that will reform how legislators receive and vote on future pay raises.

Below is a Chicago Tribune article on the matter published last week, and please click here to read the latest Chicago Tribune editorial on legislative pay raises.

I welcome your insight and input and any comments you may have on this issue.




Senators avoiding Statehouse to protect post-election pay raises
Returning to Springfield would force them to vote on 7.5% wage hike

By Ray Long and Jeffrey Meitrodt


SPRINGFIELD — The House is back this week to fight Gov. Rod Blagojevich's budget cuts, but the Senate is avoiding the Statehouse in a move that protects lawmakers' chances of getting a post-election pay raise.

Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) has said there is no need for the Senate to meet because his chamber, unlike the House, has already approved funding plans that would alleviate the need for the governor's veto of $1.4 billion in spending from the new state budget.

But critics said returning to Springfield also would force the Senate to vote on whether to boost base salaries for lawmakers next summer by 7.5 percent, to $72,985. Jones has not scheduled the Senate to return until after the November election, when it would be less volatile for lawmakers to take a vote.

A consistent advocate of boosting legislative salaries, Jones made his position clear this year when he told reporters: "I need a pay raise. I need a pay raise."

Legislative leaders, already paid more, would receive more than $100,000. The hefty salaries of the governor, other statewide officials and judges would rise too.

Sen. Susan Garrett (D- Lake Forest), who has fought the pay raise and wants a pre-election vote, contended the Senate is shirking its responsibility to tackle budget issues now because some senators want to protect salary hikes.

"Some people in leadership would rather us not be in Springfield because we would not have to address the pay raise," she said.

Jones spokeswoman Cindy Davidsmeyer denied that the pay-raise issue is why the Senate is not planning to come back until after the election.

Illinois has a quirky system designed to give lawmakers political cover. Both the House and Senate must reject the pay raises recommended every two years by a special commission or they automatically take effect. In some cases, that can result in proposed pay raises coming one right after another.

That's the case this year. Lawmakers got a 3.8 percent cost-of-living increase to their base salary of $65,353 as part of the new state budget that took effect July 1.

The ball is in the Senate's court. The House already voted down the pay hike.

Two years ago, Jones did not allow proposals to reject pay raises to be voted upon until after the election. Safely re-elected, Jones and his colleagues defeated a move to turn down the pay raises, which then took effect.

Rep. Fred Crespo (D- Hoffman Estates) led the House's effort to oppose pay raises and wants senators to vote before the election.

"If they don't," he said, "I really have to question their motives."