Illinois politicians to receive pay raises despite Rauner efforts

Failing to pass a balanced budget is of little consequence to the state’s political class.

As Illinois enters its third week without a state budget, House Speaker Mike Madigan and other members of the Illinois General Assembly will begin receiving pay raises Gov. Bruce Rauner has attempted to block.

The governor made note of this in a July 21 press conference. Lawmaker salaries are set to rise between $1,300 and $1,900.

The General Assembly passed Senate Bill 1354 – a budget bill – on June 26. One week later, on July 1, the governor issued an amendatory veto that would OK the budget bill if the General Assembly accepted additional language that would prohibit lawmakers from receiving pay raises based on cost-of-living adjustments, as well as increases to their per diem payments for when they are in session.

So why are lawmakers receiving paychecks without passing a budget? The answer is simple.

Due to a law passed last year under the leadership of Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton, lawmaker salaries, operating expenses and pay increases must be specifically prohibited for a given year for the payments to stop. This is what’s referred to as a “continuing appropriation.”

The amendatory changes to SB 1354 suggested by the governor were not accepted by the General Assembly, and the bill died. Therefore, pay increases will flow to lawmakers.

State Rep. David McSweeney, R-Cary, filed a bill on July 9 that would not only stop the pay increases, but remove lawmaker payments from being a continuing appropriation altogether, meaning lawmakers would not get paid until they pass a balanced budget.

The bill is stalled in the Rules Committee.