SPRINGFIELD - A proposal that would reject state lawmakers' automatic pay hike was passed in the Illinois House Tuesday. SB 576, which passed the House with only one negative vote, now will proceed to the Illinois Senate. The governor and the state legislature is in a tough stalemate over FY 2016's budget.
Both Democrats and Republicans signed on to sponsor the legislation, including Rep. Michael J. Madigan - John E. Bradley - Katherine Cloonen - Martin J. Moylan - David McSweeney, Deborah Conroy, Brandon W. Phelps, Jerry F. Costello, II, Sam Yingling, Michelle Mussman, Daniel V. Beiser, Randy Frese, Tom Demmer, Norine Hammond, Raymond Poe, Donald L. Moffitt, Keith P. Sommer, Reginald Phillips, C.D. Davidsmeyer, Bill Mitchell, David Reis, Jim Durkin, Jeanne M Ives, Patricia R. Bellock, Keith Wheeler, Thomas Morrison, Michael W. Tryon,Thomas Bennett, Charles E. Meier, Chad Hays, Jack D. Franks, Carol A. Sente, Steven Andersson,Ed Sullivan, Barbara Wheeler, Peter Breen, Brian W. Stewart, John D. Cavaletto, Robert W. Pritchard, David R. Leitch, John D. Anthony, Mark Batinick, Avery Bourne, John M. Cabello, Dwight Kay, Tim Butler, Michael Unes, Ron Sandack, Joe Sosnowski, Grant Wehrli, Margo McDermed, Lou Lang, Sheri L Jesiel, Christine Winger, Terri Bryant, Michael P. McAuliffe, Adam Brown, David Harris, Dan Brady and Mike Fortner.
Effective as soon as the Illinois Senate passes it and Governor Rauner signs it into law, the bill "prohibits cost-of-living adjustments for or during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015 for State government legislative and executive elected officers and appointees in positions for which the Compensation Review Board previously recommended or determined compensation. "
“Repealing the automatic pay increase is the right thing to do,” McSweeney said. “Giving legislators a pay increase when we have not passed a permanent budget is unconscionable. Now that we have rejected the pay increase, let’s finish doing our job and pass a permanent budget without raising taxes.
McSweeney has voluntarily cut his own pay and district office budget by 10%. He's also not going to accept his paychecks until the state budget crisis is solved. Earlier this year, McSweeney introduced House Bill 1313, which eliminates COLA’s for legislators and forces them to take furlough days.
