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 The 101-1 bipartisan vote sends the measure to the Senate, which
is scheduled to return to session Aug. 4.
Republican Governor Bruce Rauner has publicly criticized Democrats
who control the legislature for allowing their paychecks to grow,
while Illinois struggles financially.
Despite the near unanimous vote, the standoff continues between
Rauner and Democrats over a budget for fiscal 2016, which began July
1.
House Speaker Michael Madigan, who sponsored the bill, said despite
making "a good faith effort to meet the governor half way," the
impasse continues. He said the bill follows other actions by the
House to accommodate some of the governor's so-called turnaround
agenda, which includes worker compensation reforms and a local
property tax freeze.
"We are involved in a historic struggle between two branches of
government," he said on the House floor.
 The bill removes a $1,350 per legislator pay increase, saving the
state $238,950. Following the vote, Rauner's office released a
statement making it clear that he is still pushing for structural
reforms. Last month, he vetoed most of the $36 billion budget passed
by Democrats because it was short about $4 billion in revenue.
Illinois has a chronic structural budget deficit, as well as the
lowest credit ratings and worst-funded pension system among the 50
states.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Michael Madigan's daughter,
is keeping the state's options open regarding a 2013 cost-saving
pension reform law voided by the state supreme court in May on
constitutional grounds.
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Lisa Madigan asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday for an extension
until Sept. 10 to file a possible appeal of the ruling by the
state's high court, which rejected Illinois' argument that it needed
to invoke police powers and cut pension benefits to deal with a
fiscal emergency.
"With the decision in the City of Chicago's pension case late last
week, we are continuing to consider all of the arguments and the
best next step,” her office said in a statement.
A Cook County Circuit Court judge on Friday struck down a 2014 law
aimed at shoring up the shaky finances of two Chicago retirement
systems. That ruling also cited protections for public worker
pensions in the Illinois Constitution.
(Reporting by Karen Pierog; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
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