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.
[to top of second column] |
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.
Click here to respond to the editor about this article
|
