CHICAGO (July 27, 2016) – Illinois’ backlog of bills has ballooned to $8 billion, and state government is in its second year without a full state budget. Yet who continues to get premium pay? Illinois lawmakers. A new report released today by the nonpartisan Illinois Policy Institute puts a price tag on the Illinois legislature. 

The report lists compensation for all state representatives and state senators currently serving in the Illinois General Assembly. The report found that taxpayers spend $32 million each year on generous salaries, per diem payments, mileage reimbursements, health care, dental insurance, pay for committee and leadership roles and pensions for Illinois lawmakers. At $67,836, Illinois lawmakers have the highest base salary in the Midwest and the fifth-highest base salary for legislators in the nation. Beyond steep base salaries for what is essentially part-time work, almost all Illinois legislators receive thousands or tens of thousands of dollars in additional compensation. 

“Illinois taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to pay an average of $100,000 per legislator, especially when General Assembly has made Illinois the laughing stock of the nation. Lawmakers haven’t passed a full budget, the state can’t pay its bills and yet, legislators still prioritize their pay over core social services,” said Ted Dabrowski, vice president of policy at the Illinois Policy Institute. “It’s time for legislators to set an example of how to cut back by starting with their own pay and perks. They should set an example for other areas of state government of how reduce the cost of government to a level taxpayers can afford.”

Here is a breakdown of legislator pay:

• Base salary: The base salary for Illinois lawmakers is $67,836, which is the highest in the Midwest and the fifth-highest base salary in the nation. For comparison, the state of New Mexico does not pay its legislature a salary.

• Stipends: In addition to their base salaries, Illinois legislators can earn between $10,000 and $30,000 in stipends for holding leadership positions or serving on a committee. The vast majority – 67 percent – of Illinois lawmakers receive a stipend in addition to their base salary.

• Health care and dental insurance: In 2016, health care and dental insurance cost Illinois taxpayers nearly $7,300 per legislator. Illinois has 177 legislators.

• Per diem payments and mileage reimbursements: In 2015, Illinois taxpayers paid more than $7,700 in per diem payments and mileage reimbursement costs for each legislator.

• Pension: Illinoisans also pay nearly $15,000 per lawmaker for the pension benefits they accrue each year.  In addition to this, taxpayers must pay millions of dollars every year into the General Assembly Retirement System to keep the pension fund afloat. Lawmakers can retire in their 50s, receive 3 percent annual cost-of- living adjustments, and earn 85 percent of their final salary after just 20 years of service.

The full report of “The annual cost of Illinois’ lawmakers” with a breakdown of each compensation for all current members of the Illinois legislature can be found online here: illin.is/lawmakerpay.

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