 State Rep. David McSweeney, R-Cary, says it’s certainly time they do. He has
filed a bill that would reduce legislator pay by 10 percent and another that
would reduce state constitutional officers’ pay by 10 percent.
He also wants to end state pensions for newly elected legislators.
McSweeney has already voluntarily reduced his own pay by 10 percent, cut his
district office expenditure and declined to participate in the pension system.
“We all need to lead by example in Springfield,” McSweeney told Illinois News
Network.
“We’re obviously facing a tough fiscal situation, and legislators should start
with a 10 percent reduction, and I think all the constitutional officers should
follow suit.”
The changes McSweeney seeks would have to wait until new terms begin. The state
constitution mandates elected officials’ salaries not be raised or lowered
during any given term.
Effort’s like McSweeney’s could see some success this year, said one political
analyst, but he added not to expect much until late in the spring.
If cuts to state government are severe as expected, legislators might have to
make a gesture to show they are sharing in the pain, said Kent Redfield,
political science professor emeritus at University of Illinois Springfield.
“I think we may see some response when the Legislature really gets into
discussing spending cuts and (revenue) increases.”
“I suspect something will get done before the end of the session to show
legislators’ commitment.”
Gov. Bruce Rauner has referenced “shared sacrifice” when he discusses the
state’s enormous financial problems. Illinois annual operating deficit is in the
billions and the state also has pension-funding shortfall of $111 billion.
Rauner has cut his pay to $1 per year.
And Illinois legislators are well paid.
Only California, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania pay their legislators
higher base salaries, according to the National Conference of State
Legislatures.
Illinois legislators’ base pay for 2104 was about $66,300, according to data
from the state comptroller’s office.
Additionally, many state legislators pick up bonuses for serving in leadership
positions, including committee chairmanships.
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 The average 2014 pay for senators was around $77,000 and
representatives about $74,000. Legislators also receive a daily
payment of $111 when their chamber is in session.
Taxpayers also fund legislators’ healthcare and pensions.
A seat in the General Assembly is considered a part-time job, and
some members continue to pursue their original trade or profession,
while others consider themselves full-time legislators.
Above-average pay for legislators is not necessarily a bad thing
said, sad Chris Mooney, director of the Institute of Government and
Public Affairs at the University of Illinois.
The public, he said, should consider if it wants legislative pay set
at a level where only the wealthy could afford to make time to
serve. Conversely, he added, the pay should be attractive enough
that a talented but not necessarily wealthy person would be
attracted.
Mooney pointed out that when Gov. Pat Quinn ordered a halt to
legislative pay in the summer 2013 during a fight over the pension
crisis, some legislators could afford to shrug while others were
taking out loans for living expenses.
A judge eventually ordered legislators be paid with interest.
There indeed is nothing wrong with a good salary for a job well
done, said Pete Sepp, president of the National Taxpayers Union.
“Unfortunately, Illinois in particular has suffered some pretty poor
fiscal leadership for more than the past few years,” Sepp. said.
He said a reduction in pay by the General Assembly would be
recognition that it bears some responsibility for Illinois’ current
poor financial health.
A decision to reduce pay would be “a visible commitment from elected
officials to their taxpaying constituents that they are willing to
take responsibility, lead from the front and share in the pain,”
Sepp said.
Redfield said he sees some good in legislators treating the job as
full time. The state is the nation’s fifth-largest in population,
and its problems are huge and complex, he said.
[This
article courtesy of
Watchdog.]
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