Illinois Lawmakers Add $12k Pay Raise For Themselves Into Spending Bill

Illinois State lawmakers want to get a $12,000 raise by a bill spending more than $1.7 Billion of taxpayer money.

Just Before 9 p.m. Friday, Illinois House Approved amendment To Senate Bill 1720. The Measure now goes to the Illinois SenateWhich returns Sunday evening.

Alongside giving pay raises to state legislators, constitutional officers and executive agency directors, the measure puts $850 million into the state’s Budget Stabilization Fund The rainy fund, also known by the rainy days fund, provides a $460 million payment to hospitals across the state to help with increased nursing costs. $400 million is then deposited into the fund Large Business Attraction Fund Deposits of $72 million to the Disaster Recovery FundAmong other things.

“A hundred and seventy-four pages on a Friday night, the audacity of what we are doing,” State Rep. Mark Batinick, R-Plainfield, in opposition. “Pay increase, Christmas in January, for legislators.”

In The 102nd General Assembly That’s it! Jan. 10, the base salary for legislators is $72,906 per year. Legislative Leaders get additional stipends, starting with the chairman of the committee and minority spokesman who each receive $11,098 more. Senate President House Additional $29,530 per year for speaker If Senate Bill 1720 as amended by the Senate The governor signs the legislation, starting at the 103rd General Assembly This is where it all starts Jan. 11. The base salary for part-time state legislators is expected to increase to $85,000

The The measure also increases the salaries for the governor from $181670 to $205,700, the lieutenant Governor from $140,000 to $160900, and the secretary of state between $161,500 and $183,300. The attorney general is also increased from $161,000 up to $183,000. The The salaries of the treasurer and comptroller will be increased from $140,000 each to $160,000.

Batinick According to them, the bill hasn’t even been read.

“This is a Springfield setup,” He said. “You may think that the public isn’t going to notice, it seems that we’re doing our best to make it happen that way, but they will notice.”

House Majority Leader Greg Harris, D-ChicagoThe measure was deemed to be good for the state by.

“We are putting aside $400 million to be competitive with other states in attracting high tech jobs and employers to our state, we are paying $460 million to keep our hospital systems afloat and we’re putting $850 million in its rainy day fund,” Harris said.

Harris went on to say the spending stabilizes the state’s finances and increases pension payments, but it also modifies state policies to help families “by making sure that the state takes its hand out of families pockets and sending all child support payments directly to the children.”

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