In the News

Chicago Sun-Times, May 8, 2008

SPRINGFIELD -- The fate of a salary increase for state lawmakers now lies in the hands of Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago), who last week said, "I need a pay raise."

By a 94-8 vote, the Illinois House on Wednesday rejected a plan to hike lawmakers' salaries. The Senate must also pass a resolution opposing the increase by the end of May or the raises automatically go into effect July 1.

If the Legislature does not reject the recommendations from the state Compensation Review Board, lawmakers' salaries would jump $7,000 annually. The pay of legislative leaders, including Jones and House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago), would rise from $91,824 to $102,547. Gov. Blagojevich would receive an extra $20,000, increasing his salary to $192,773.

Jones offered no clear idea what the next move in the Senate might be, despite his comments last week.

"I don't make any decisions," he said.

Jones also took a shot at the House, accusing members of hypocrisy for accepting pay increases last year.

"The House members were the first in line to cash the paycheck when the last one passed," Jones said. "That's just a political statement that they make. If they were genuinely sincere, they would not have taken the money."

Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest) filed a resolution rejecting the pay raises Wednesday. She said she remains hopeful a vote will be called but said Jones has not divulged whether he would permit her resolution to be voted on.