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House votes to dump 2 percent raise

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[July 30, 2015]  By Mark Fitton | Illinois News Network
 
 SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois House on Tuesday rejected a 2 percent raise and proved that even when they agree state lawmakers can give each other a verbal beating.

By a vote of 101 to 1, representatives passed House Bill 576, which would halt a 2 percent cost-of-living allowance and freeze per diem and mileage rates at their current levels: $111 per day and 39 cents, respectively.

Rep. Will Davis, D-Chicago, cast the only “no” vote. No members of the House voted present, and 16 members did not cast votes.

The bill sponsored by the speaker of the House, Democrat Michael Madigan of Chicago, now goes to the Senate, where Madigan said he expects it will be called for a vote and will pass.

The Senate next meets Aug. 4.

Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration, which has repeatedly criticized Democratic lawmakers — Madigan in particular — for not acting to kill the raise of about $1,350 per lawmaker issued a statement praising the vote.

“Governor Rauner appreciates today’s action in the House and thanks all those members who showed leadership on this issue,” said Rauner communications director Lance Trover.

Trover said the governor encourages the Senate and Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, to move the legislation to the governor’s desk for the Winnetka Republican’s signature.

And about there the good vibes end.

Although supporting the bill, GOP lawmakers chided Democrats for waiting until the end of July to act and for keeping Republican efforts to accomplish the same goal locked in committee.

“It’s about time, actually,” said Rep. Ron Sandack, R-Downers Grove, “I’d remind some people that, for three weeks straight, those of us on this side of the aisle tried to do this very thing and were, frankly, stopped.”

In fact, he said, GOP lawmakers wanted the matter addressed in the spring.

“We had a bill in May that know one wanted to to talk about then, so welcome to the party,” he told Democrats. “Thank you for your cooperation.”

“We’re already nearly a complete month into the new fiscal year,” said Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Rochelle. “We had many bills filed well within the regular session, and we could have dealt with it then.”

Several also said the bill did not go far enough.

Rep. Joe Sosnowski, R-Rockford, argued automatic cost-of-living allowances should be eliminated entirely. “Eliminate them once and for all,” he said.

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Said Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, “I would argue we should not get paid at all until we pass a balanced budget.”

Democrats didn’t appear in a mood to take jibes and they counterpunched, accusing the GOP — especially Rauner’s office — of hypocrisy regarding pay.

Rep. Robert Martwick, D-Chicago, said the total raise for all lawmakers combined would equal a little less than $239,000.

“Problem solved, budget solved,” he said. “Sorry, that was snarky. I know it doesn’t solve our problems.”

Republicans had been hammering on “good optics,” or positive public relations, Martwick said, but they also were choosing to ignore pay in the governor’s office and state agencies under the control of the governor.

Democrats cited the state paying a state schools superintendent at the Illinois State Board of Education $225,000 and a secretary of education within the governor’s office $250,000.

State Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, said, “The governor’s wife’s assistant makes more than every legislator in this room,” an apparent reference to the Illinois first lady’s chief of staff, who makes about $100,000 annually.

Republicans pointed out the governor is working for $1 and returning the remainder of his roughly $179,000 state salary.

Illinois legislators make about $67,800, said Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield, adding that’s the best legislative pay in the Midwest and fifth-highest in the country.

“That’s a lot of money, folks,” he said, adding legislators should not be patting themselves on the back when it comes to votes concerning their pay.

Even if passed next week by the Senate and signed immediately by the governor, House Bill 576 could face a Constitutional challenge.

Lawmakers will apparently be paid the higher amount for July because the COLA had not been rejected sooner.

Reducing the amount for August and beyond could be interpreted as reducing a lawmaker’s salary during his or her current term, which the Illinois constitution forbids.

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