In the News

The Journal and Topics Newspapers, Week of June 1, 2008

State Sen. Susan Garrett (D-29th) is calling for a major overhaul in how state lawmakers are given pay raises.

"The current system is flawed and broken," said Garrett. "We need to fix it."

In a Springfield press conference held Thursday, May 29, Garrett proposed changes to the Illinois Compensation Review Board.

Garrett said she will propose legislation to overhaul the system next fall at the start of the next legislative session.

Garrett has gotten into a verbal sparing match with Sen. Ricky Hendon (D-5th) over raises currently proposed when she put forward a senate bill opposing them.

The proposed 11% increases would see senators' pay top $70,000 and top legislative leaders pay reach $100,000.

Garrett said, with the state's $750 million state budget gap and the current economic downturn, this is no time for legislators to give them selves a raise.

Hendon called Garrett the "senator from richville," saying Garrett is a millionaire and does not need a raise.

Garrett laughed off Hendon's remarks saying, "I can stand up to the Ricky Hendon's of this world."

Under the current system the board recommends a pay raise package that is enacted unless both the Illinois House and Senate pass identical bills opposing the raises.

A bill opposing the raises passed the House earlier this month.

Garrett's proposal would change the legislature's role creating more transparency and oversight.

Rather than both the House and Senate voting to oppose the raise, Garrett said, "Both chambers would have to agree to the raise otherwise it wouldn't work."

She also said raises for different positions such as judge, legislator and executive should be presented to the legislature individually rather than in one large package together.

Garrett's proposal would make the process more open webcasting the compensation board's meetings and posting its minutes on the internet.

She said the board should act more like an ethics committee and should have strong protections built in against conflicts of interest.