SPRINGFIELD -- The debate in the General Assembly over pay raises for lawmakers got personal Thursday, with a Senate Democrat chastising another for her wealth and blaming state representatives for using the Senate to get their money.
A state panel that sets officials' pay recently recommended cost-of-living adjustments as well as salary increases of 1 percent for lawmakers and 1.5 percent for judges and executive officers like the governor. The Illinois House voted Wednesday to reject the raises, but the Senate must approve the exact same rejection proposal or the raises are automatic.
State Sen. Rickey Hendon, a Chicago Democrat, said the Illinois House votes to reject the raises all the while expecting the Senate to block rejection. Everyone ends up with more money, but only the Senate ends up with a political black eye.
"They want to use the Senate and pimp us, and they keep taking the money," Hendon said of the House.
As chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, Hendon controls whether the plan to reject the raises ever sees the light of day in the Senate. Hendon said the plan needs to be changed before it's voted on.
He wants the proposal to say anyone voting against the raises won't get them, even if they are ultimately approved.
With the raises, lawmakers would be making $73,000 to $100,000 a year by next summer. Gov. Rod Blagojevich would see his pay climb by more than $20,000 to about $192,000 a year. More on the story.
And still no budget? It's time for stolen-taxpayer's-money-in-the-garbage-bags G-Rod to be given the serious golden boot from office pronto.
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