Oh, those pesky priorities

[Guest guest]

It's good to know that #1 lawmakers are looking out for their #1 constituents.

 

Illinois lawmakers hush-hush about pay raise in the budget

May 16, 2011

By J. Cristobal, Illinois Statehouse News

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois lawmakers usually say it loud and proud when they cut

their own pay to save the state some money, but they are much quieter about

raising their salaries.

A state Senate panel on Monday passed a plan requiring General Assembly members

to take 12 furlough days for fiscal year 2012, which starts in July.

However, the same proposal, SB260, includes the “additional amounts per

year†for other lawmakers — committee chairmen and committee minority

spokesmen and spokeswomen.

The lump-sum appropriations in the proposal would increase pay for Senate

committee chiefs by 14 percent. House committee bosses would see a 47-percent

jump in pay. These increases are on top of the base $67,836 annual salaries that

all lawmakers earn. Committee and leadership posts bring extra pay.

In other words, more taxpayers’ money would be funneled into extra pay for

select lawmakers, said state Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon.

“So there’s some games being played here,†said Righter, a member of the

Senate Executive Committee. “And sometimes that’s the way things happen —

like this — is because (Democrats) want to do it before anyone really sees

it.â€

However State Sen. Dan Kotowski, D-Park Ridge, who sponsored the measure, said

this move would restore the public’s good faith and trust to the government.

“We’re basically changing the existing law, to require legislators to work

12 days without getting paid,†he said. “That’s very, very, important, and

that’s going to lead to reduction in salaries across the board this year and a

total of saving $1.2 million for taxpayers.â€

Lawmakers do want the public to notice when they cut their own pay, Righter and

Kotowski said.

“But not this, the increasing the stipend (proposal), because it kind of makes

it look like, ‘OK you’re taking it out of your pocket over here, but

you’re going to shove your other pocket full,’†Righter said. “That’s

what it looks like, like the outset that they’re trying to do here.â€

Lilia Hodges, 58, of Chicago, was at the Capitol on Monday to support Progress

Center for Independent Living, a nonprofit advocacy organization.

“I feel ashamed, and I feel mortified that our legislators would increase the

lining of their pockets when we, who are on Social Security disability, have not

had a cost-of-living increase in over two years,†said Hodges, an Army veteran

who served until 1984.

Guidish, 41, said lawmakers deserve a pay raise, but now is not the right

time.

“I understand lawmakers work hard, … but I don’t know if I can bear a pay

raise (for lawmakers,)†the Springfield man said. “Here we are asking not to

be cut and to be able to continue to live in our communities and live with our

family and loved ones. On the other hand, we hear they are required to receive

pay raises when a lot of agencies are losing funding and closing.â€

The government needs to live within its means, Kotowski said.

“The fact is, we have very limited resources available, and we have to make

necessary cuts and sacrifices,†he said. “The General Assembly needs to

lead, and that’s what we’re doing — we’re leading and we’re making

necessary sacrifices that we have to.â€

The measure is on its way to the Senate for a full vote.

[Guest guest]

In regard to legislator leadership pay increases...GEEZ LOUISE, as Laurie would

say!

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...