In the News

Pioneer Press, May 15, 2008

An area legislator's efforts to stop proposed pay raises for state lawmakers may have hit a roadblock in the Illinois Senate.

State Sen. Susan Garrett, D-29th, of Lake Forest, has proposed a resolution to reject the Compensation Board's 2008 report, which recommends salary increases for state lawmakers and executive branch officers including the governor. An identical resolution opposing the proposed pay hike plan passed the Illinois House by a 94-8 vote last week.

Garrett said she hopes her bill will be called for a vote in the Senate, but fears the Senate leadership is trying to block a vote on the issue.

Garrett said Senate President Emil Jones and Assistant Majority Leader Rickey Hendon have both indicated they support the pay raises. Garrett said she's "not optimistic" her resolution will be called for a vote because Hendon now chairs the Senate rules committee, which decides what bills are called.

"I was shocked at the backlash I received from leadership when I filed a resolution to reject the pay raise, and asked that we have an opportunity for an up or down vote on the issue," said Garrett.

"They've made it very clear to me they don't believe I'm on the right side of this issue," she continued. "The implication is very clear that they feel a pay raise is warranted, despite the fact we cannot make school payments, pay Medicaid bills or balance our budget."

Cindy Davidsmeyer, a spokesperson for the Senate President's office, said Jones has made his position clear that he supports the raises, but it will be up to the Senate if they want to take up the issue.

"He's committed to letting the members decide what they want to do with that," he said.

Under the Compensation Review Board's proposed pay plan, the base salaries for legislators would increase from $65,353 to more than $70,000 as of July 1, with lawmakers in leadership positions receiving even higher salaries. Under the plan, the governor's salary would increase from $170,917 to $184,035 as of July 1, and to more than $192,000 a year starting in July 2009.

The hikes will automatically go into effect, unless both Houses vote to reject or reduce them by May 29.

State Sen. Terry Link, D-30th, of Vernon Hills, said he has not made up his mind about the pay raises, but does believe the Senate should have the opportunity to vote on the issue.

Link noted the Compensation Review Board was created by the General Assembly several years ago to review salary levels of state lawmakers and executive branch officers, as well as state judges and local state's attorneys. He said the purpose of the board was to take politics out of the process.

"It's become very political the last couple years and that wasn't the intent," he said.

"I know there are legislators who work very hard that need it," added Link, regarding the pay raises. "I can live without it, it's not going to affect my livelihood if I don't get it, but there are a lot of people putting in long hours and this is their livelihood."

Meanwhile, in the Illinois House, area lawmakers from both political parties voted to reject the proposed pay plan.

State Rep. Ed Sullivan, R-51st, of Mundelein, said he does not believe there's any justification for a pay raise for lawmakers at this time.

"I voted against it because I don't think it's the right time for elected officials to be receiving an increase in pay, when everybody else in the working world is looking at a potential recession," Sullivan said. "You add to that fact that I don't think Illinois government has been a very good stewards of the state's tax dollars.

"I would hope that the rest of the Lake County Democratic senators will voice their opposition to the pay raises, and pressure Senate President Jones to allow a vote," he added.

Also voting for the House resolution opposing the pay raises were state representatives Kathy Ryg, D-59th, of Vernon Hills, JoAnn Osmond, R-61st, of Antioch, Sandy Cole, R-62nd, of Grayslake, Mark Beaubien, R-52nd, of Wauconda, and Sidney Mathias, R-53rd, of Buffalo Grove.

State Rep. Karen May, D-58th, of Highland Park, was listed as a no vote on the resolution opposing the pay raises, but May said she inadvertently pressed the wrong button during the House vote.

May said the transcript of the House floor proceedings shows she opposed the raises, and was a co-sponsor of the House resolution to block them.

"I did not want to support a pay raise," she said.