In the News

Chicago Tribune, May 7, 2008

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois House voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to reject a pay raise, meaning the Senate must do the same or the salary bumps take effect.

The state's Compensation Review Board recommended boosting the base salary for part-time lawmakers to nearly $73,000 next year—an 11.7 percent increase. Top legislative leaders would earn more than $100,000 and the governor's pay would increase from $170,917 to $192,773.

Under a complicated process designed to insulate lawmakers from political fallout, raises for legislators and other officials, including judges, are set by the review board and take effect unless both the House and Senate reject the recommendation.

The House typically votes against the raises, but the Senate has concurred six times since 1984, according to the board's most recent report.

Lawmakers got a nearly 10 percent pay increase last year after the Senate refused to turn down the pay raises.

Rep. Fred Crespo (D- Hoffman Estates) said he couldn't support a raise when he and his colleagues have "failed" their constituents by not addressing other major issues such as filling a $750 million budget hole and agreeing on a multibillion-dollar public works program.

"We need to take care of the needs of the people who sent us here . . . before we take care of ourselves," Crespo said.

Several Democratic lawmakers said they deserve more money.

"I don't think my constituents think I am overpaid," said Rep. Kevin McCarthy (D- Orland Park), who voted against the resolution.

The House rejected the pay increases on a 94-8 vote, with six legislators abstaining. House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) voted against the measure, but his spokesman declined to discuss Madigan's position on the raises.

Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago), who told reporters last week he needs a raise, dismissed the House action. "The House members were the first in line to cash the paycheck when it, the last one, passed," he said. "That's just a political statement that they make."

Sen. Susan Garrett (D- Lake Forest) said there's a "pretty good" chance Jones will allow a vote on the raises, but she's not sure her colleagues will reject them.

"Nobody should receive a raise without publicly having to vote up or down on it," Garrett said.

Also Wednesday, Jones removed Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson (D- Crete) as chair of the powerful Rules Committee after she clashed with Republicans over her handling of a bill that could have allowed voters to create a recall provision for elected officials.

Halvorson said she believes she was replaced by Sen. Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago) because she had become a "distraction" and had publicly broken with Jones on several major issues, including recall.

But Andy Sere, campaign manager for Halvorson's 11th Congressional District Republican foe, Martin Ozinga III, said Halvorson is trying to distance herself from Jones and Gov. Rod Blagojevich now that her "loyalty to their agenda" is "damaging" her campaign.