86 Comments - Saluki - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 11:34 am: It continues to be a good idea. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 11:36 am: ===Illinois Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger on Wednesday announced “No budget, no pay” legislation to ensure that the General Assembly and Governor pass an annual balanced budget, as required by the state’s Constitution. Specifically, the legislation requires a balanced budget be passed in order for the state’s Constitutional Officers – and the 177 members of the General Assembly – to be paid their salary.=== Constitutional? Hmm. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 11:38 am: Who decides if it’s balances? I don’t see that in the Comproller’s constitutional duties? So is she proposing more duties for… ? - 47th Ward - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 11:40 am: I wonder if we’ll here from the Illinois Policy Institute about this. I’m pretty sure they think stunts like this are illegal and a bad idea. https://www.illinoispolicy.org/as-usual-politicians-win-taxpayers-lose-in-legislator-pay-lawsuit/ - 47th Ward - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 11:40 am: *hear* - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 11:41 am: Article IV, Section 11? - out of touch - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 11:43 am: Can’t she pander an absurd populist idea that IS constitutional? - Tony - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 11:47 am: What is the percentage of current members that actually need the pay? Another way to keep the average man out of the race. A distraction from the issues. Just do your job please. - Deft Wing - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 11:48 am: Great politics over very bad policy, so it’s a no-brainer. This is, however, yet another poke in the eye to rank & file GOP legislators from Rauner (it’s his idea) and Munger (who is and will continue to run with this for as long as she can). - Henry Francis - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 11:48 am: Isn’t the Comltroller’s job to pay the state’s bills? Hasn’t Illinois faliled to pay its bills? The accountability is at the ballot box - not paycheck. - Last Bull Moose - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 11:49 am: I thought the consensus from earlier discussions was that the payment schedule for the Legislators is clearly specified in the Illinois Constitution. This act is politically popular but unconstitutional. Will the legislature call her on it? - 47th Ward - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 11:50 am: Pat Quinn called. He wants his illegal stunt back. - Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 11:51 am: “I don’t know of an employer that would pay someone that is not doing their job. Why should taxpayers settle for less?,” Wow. So if an employer decides that their hourly workers aren’t performing well, then they don’t have to pay them? Not that I sympathize too much with our legislature, but they still deserve to get paid just like anybody else that performs work. - Pius - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 11:55 am: ==“I don’t know of an employer that would pay someone that is not doing their job. Why should taxpayers settle for less?,” Munger said.== Apparently the GA now works for Ms. Munger. - IRLJ - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 11:57 am: Tony +1 Fine to play politics with this, so long as you’re one of the elected officials who is wealthy, who doesn’t need to be paid. Typical of Governor Rauner’s class war against the non-rich. - Earnest - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 11:57 am: >She is now introducing legislation to ensure that if a balanced budget is not in place, there is no compensation for elected leaders. If she were really serious, the bill would be that K-12 don’t open in the fall until a budget is passed. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 11:58 am: ===”I don’t know of an employer that would pay someone that is not doing their job. Why should taxpayers settle for less?,” Munger said.=== Has the Comptroller even read the constitution and understand her oath? - Honeybear - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 12:00 pm: It’s consistent with the way Rauner acts. “I’ll bury you and your family”, I think is the quote. Thus Munger wants to punish middleclass legislators families by withholding their pay for refusing to give in to extortion. Somebody call the Federal government please. - Bigtwich - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 12:01 pm: Years ago I worked for a Legal Services program. I had a lot of cases where employers thought they has reason to withhold some or all of their employees pay. I really grew to despise those people. - Thoughts Matter - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 12:04 pm: Does she understand what their job is? It’s a lot more than passing a budget. Her job Is to pay the bills- all of them. She’s not doing that either- can we refuse to pay her - ever- until she does? Never mind whose fault it is. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 12:08 pm: 1 term is all she will get. This won’t help her cause. Good thing she doesn’t need the money. - Austinman - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 12:11 pm: Dumb idea, legislators do more than just work on budgets - Montrose - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 12:29 pm: I used to think Munger could/would play the role of a leader that could be respected from both sides of the aisle. I am sad to see that she has not lived up to that promise. - Restore sanity - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 12:30 pm: This is politics. The Comptroller is not trying to impress policy wonks or legal experts, she is trying to get reelected. Go talk to the average voter and they love the idea of no legislator pay. The average voter does not care about the Illinois Constitution. I am not saying it right what she is doing, but it is clearly a political move that aims to make her look like a hero to the average voter. - titan - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 12:31 pm: Is there a legislator on board to sponsor this new Bill that would need 60 and 30? - RNUG - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 12:35 pm: I’m going to skip the whole constitutionality question and just ask EXACTLY what authority does SHE have to actually introduce (as claimed) a bill in the General Assembly? Sloppy work; must have been done by the Rauner team that thinks government is run the same as private business and that you can do whatever you want. At best, she can ask a Senator or Representative to introduce such a bill. This tells me her internal polling numbers must be going south … - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 12:38 pm: ===Is there a legislator on board to sponsor this new Bill that would need 60 and 30?=== The Rauner appointed, Gidwitz “executized”, campaign losing Leslie Munger doesn’t want this passed, Munger wants this pandered. Do better. This is no better than Quinn. Period, end of discussion. - Jocko - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 12:47 pm: Leslie has it in her mind she’s the paymaster for Bruce’s company store. Her next stunt will be handing legislators scrip (or “Shrute-bucks”) - Trapped in the 'burbs - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 12:47 pm: Pandering to the angry masses seems to be page 1 in the republican playbook this election cycle. While the idea of “do your job or you don’t get paid” sounds good, it sets a dangerous precedent. Although being a legislator is technically a part time job, we shouldn’t set up a protocol that discourages people from elective posts unless they are wealthy enough to serve without being paid. It would adversely impact a representative body. - Norseman - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 12:50 pm: A political stunt typical of a Rauner sycophant. Another reason to vote her out of office. - The_Equalizer - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 12:50 pm: No pay is fine if you’re already a billionaire, but for your citizen legislator, you need a check. Legislators in Britain started getting paid to help break the stranglehold of upper class twits on Parliament. No pay means only people that have lots of money will be able to serve. I find this extortion damaging to our state. - Sir Reel - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 12:56 pm: I wish she would invest as much effort, or some effort, in reaching compromise on a budget. But then again, she’s just following the Rauner playbook. - Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 1:01 pm: Can’t wait to see which democrats make a big deal out of this. Yes pay us and give us a raise even when we fail to do the most basic of our duties. - illini - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 1:03 pm: I am missing JBT more and more every day !!!!! - A guy - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 1:05 pm: Seriously beyond all the political angles of this; which I concede are many… Providing incentives, even similar to this one, of passing a balanced budget might install some discipline. Wish we were talking about it outside of campaign season. - Johnny Tractor - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 1:06 pm: What Austinman said - so, all they’re supposed to do is just pass a balanced budget and they can call it a year? - Demoralized - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 1:08 pm: Lucky: Take it up with them at the ballot box. This is nothing but a political stunt. - Johnny Tractor - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 1:08 pm: Hey, let’s build on this concept - let’s tie their pay to the number of laws they pass and implement each year. Tie pay to production - it’s how the market works! /s - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 1:10 pm: - Lucky Pierre -, Sen. Murphy resigned due to money and pay. “Former” Sen. Murphy is a Republican. Matt Murphy is leaving due in part that he has done a job, and has yet to get paid, and Mr. Murphy cited monetary reasons. Leslie Munger must be thrilled. “Another one gone!” - Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 1:12 pm: “I don’t know of an employer that would pay someone that is not doing their job. ” One could argue, as I have, that the legislators are doing their jobs. The Governor did not run on his anti-union agenda. In fact he denied that he had an anti-union agenda. Now he is trying to force legislators to vote against the interests of the very people who elected them. And Munger is playing the part of the muscle whom the governor has sent to “convince” them. What she is doing is illegal and the Justice Department should investigate. Maybe she’ll be processed in time to join Blago’s band. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 1:20 pm: Good for her, and to the Good for her. Period - Dr X - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 1:21 pm: Doing their job? Isn’t their job to represent their selfish little districts first? I’d say they are doing a great job at that. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 1:22 pm: There’s a reason the constitution protects, and doesn’t allow anyone in the executive to deny pay to other branches of state government. There’s also a reason they all take an oath to protect the constitution. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 1:23 pm: HB4253 was filed July of 2015… - Gooner - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 1:24 pm: The real problem is that her idea is a reminder that the GOP can be out of touch. Rauner does not need a government paycheck. I doubt Munger needs one (although I don’t know enough about her to say for sure). Her concept rewards wealthy people for treating poor people badly. Wealthy people can hold out for a budget that harms unions. Elected officials who need to work for a living cannot hold out. It is just a values judgment on Munger’s part, and it plays to public perceptions of IL Republicans. - Chicago_Downstater - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 1:28 pm: As Pius pointed out, Comptroller Munger is not the GA’s employer. We the People are the employer. We can’t withhold a paycheck–just like any other legal employer–but we can fire our employees for a job badly done through the ballot. And since Comptroller Munger refuses to do her constitutional job, I guess I’m going to vote to fire her. - SinkingShip - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 1:29 pm: How does forcing lawmakers to vote under a threat to their pocketbook help the state, again? “Either vote for this budget, or don’t get paid,” seems very similar to “if you vote for this budget, you will get paid.” Which… seems wrong, right? Like, fundamentally, goes-against-the-grain-of-democracy wrong. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 1:32 pm: This post reminded me of a story about the US republicans and their continuing battle with Obama that I read in the Guardian about how the over the top stunts for the last 8 years has imploded the party. www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/aug/09/gop-tried-sink-obama-imploded-extremism I just wonder if 1.4% is going the same thing to the IL GOP. - Huh? - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 1:34 pm: 1:32 was me. - late to the party - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 1:38 pm: The Governor and Governor’s office failed to present a balanced budget to the GA. Shouldn’t their paychecks go to the back of the line, too? - From the 'Dale to HP - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 1:38 pm: Why not give the members IOUs instead of holding off paying them? - wondering - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 1:44 pm: I wonder why, if she thinks she is on firm legal ground,she is advocating legislation? It would seem to me that the legislature can not legislate away a constitutional requirement whether it impacts there situation or not. Kind of appears she is proposing a preemptive strike in case she is found to be in violation of the constitution. This is not a person acting with the detachment required for her job. - Cassandra - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 1:44 pm: Doesn’t California have a laws like this. I know it was being discussed a couple of years back. In any case, I so don’t care. This is all absolute inside baseball, typical of the Illinois political establishment. Everything they do…it’s all about them. Both sides of the aisle. - JS Mill - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 2:00 pm: =Can’t wait to see which democrats make a big deal out of this. Yes pay us and give us a raise even when we fail to do the most basic of our duties.= So…you are confirming that the GOP wasn’t working on the budget? That would include Rauner. Pretty much what I thought. Thanks. - millikin - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 2:11 pm: We sure do miss JBT doing the job! But I’m not sure even she could have guided this governor and his superstars through passing a budget and working with the other side. Perhaps its best that she is Resting in Peace! Perhaps a lightning strike from above would be better! - Saluki Matt - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 2:28 pm: I agree with the idea. Having legislators wait in line like everyone else is fair as they are still getting paid…eventually. I am asked to pay 100% of my dental visits for not only me but my 3 dependents, twice per year. And it has been over 1 year since I received any checks from Delta Dental because of the State. Do your job, legislators. - CrazyHorse - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 2:33 pm: ==“I don’t know of an employer that would pay someone that is not doing their job. Why should taxpayers settle for less?,” Munger said.== Sheer lunacy. A rep/senator may be doing a great job for his/her constituency. They may be doing everything in their power to get a budget passed but last I checked each Rep and Senator have only ONE vote. They don’t have the power to pass the budget on their own. It’s patently unfair to say they don’t deserve to be paid because 70 others weren’t on board with them. This is ridiculous. If anyone agrees with this then they should also agree that the legislators shouldn’t bother with any other legislative duties. The other duties don’t qualify as “doing your job” according to Munger so why bother with them. - Soccermom - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 2:40 pm: This upsets me so much. How can we expect to elect smart, capable people who will devote themselves to the public good if they know they might not get paid? Some of our very best legislators are full-time — meaning they are working back in their district offices when the GA is not in session. That means their families are relying on those paychecks. It must be nice to be Leslie Munger and have so much money that you don’t care when, or if, you get paid. But frankly, I don’t see how she can represent my interests if she doesn’t understand why it is illegal to withhold people’s paychecks. Ugh. I will be making another donation to Susana Mendoza’s campaign later today. - Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 2:45 pm: OW Murphy did not resign because he was being paid a few months late. He resigned because he needed to make more money, I think the Speaker makes 95 K for a part time job not including pension and health care benefits Not bad work, no legislator can say they are realistically underpaid. Their salaries are 5th highest I believe I doubt anyone would say they are earning their money when all of these issues are unresolved until after the election - Pawn - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 2:51 pm: Sorry LP. I have heard from people who spoke directly to Murphy. He resigned bc he can’t afford not to be paid. - Mama - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 2:55 pm: “I don’t know of an employer that would pay someone that is not doing their job. Why should taxpayers settle for less?,” Hmm Hellooo….. When did the Comptroller “Munger” become the State Legislators employer? - Person 8 - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 3:00 pm: ==“I don’t know of an employer that would pay someone that is not doing their job. Why should taxpayers settle for less?,” Munger said.== Derek Rose? - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 3:02 pm: ===Their salaries are 5th highest I believe=== Zero… is Zero. Munger chose to shake down legislators. “You can pass a budget that I have constitutional authority to judge, or not get paid, or quit” Interesting… Zero IS Zero. ===I doubt anyone would say they are earning their money when all of these issues are unresolved until after the election=== Constitutionally, there is no test. Article IV, Section 11 days “pay them”, period. - wondering - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 3:05 pm: Well, LP, what constitutes “doing your job”? Are you suggesting that rolling over for Rauner is doing your job but resisting Rauner is not? If the shoe were on the other foot, a legislator would not give in to a Blago on who knows what, would you say a Democrtic comptroller refusing to pay legislators unless they passed a graduated income tax amendment? I wonder if you are a little vague on the concept of an independent legislature? - downstate commissioner - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 3:08 pm: I actually like Munger, but this is just wzedrong. If a private employer (or for that matter, any public employer) didn’t pay an employee, the Department of Labor’s phone lines would be burning up, if unionizedl-greivances would be filed in mass, and some employer might fight find him or herself in jail. - Mama - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 3:10 pm: “What she is doing is illegal and the Justice Department should investigate. Maybe she’ll be processed in time to join Blago’s band.” If this is true, why are the legislators NOT filing a lawsuit, or filing a complaint with the State Attorney General Madigan? - Wayne Bibliotech - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 3:13 pm: She is in no position to question the legislators’ efforts at their job–after all, she isn’t sending out the checks she owes either. And they are most certainly doing their job trying to get a budget out of this administration. The question I can’t answer is what’s the deal with Mendoza. I’m not happy about voting for either one of them. - RNUG - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 3:14 pm: == If this is true, why are the legislators NOT filing a lawsuit, or filing a complaint with the State Attorney General Madigan? == Politics and public perception - Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 3:17 pm: OW you keep saying legislators are making zero. They are being paid late, but they will get every penny owed. I think you are confused, they accomplished zero since Rauner was elected but they are well paid - Deft Wing - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 3:22 pm: This obvious political stunt by Rauner/Munger reminds me of the ploy Madigan ran just a few years ago against GOP State House incumbents and challengers. Remember, all such STATE House Republicans were supposedly going to cut social security and Medicare?! Totally nonsensical claims … that achieved their political ends. So too (is the attempt) with this clearly unconstitutional bill Munger advocates. It ain’t going anywhere … other than on TV and in mailers against Mendoza and Democrats. - Trophy for last place - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 3:46 pm: I think that voters will eat this up. Very Bernie Trumpish. - Michelle Flaherty - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 3:48 pm: So Munger doesn’t want to pay lawmakers until they raise taxes? - Mama - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 3:49 pm: RNUNG, can the Comptroller file on behalf of the legislators without naming names? - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:06 pm: === you keep saying legislators are making zero.=== Empty bank accounts tell me it’s so. ===They are being paid late, but they will get every penny owed.=== Vendors and social services that curry favor from Leslie Munger know all too well that choosing who gets paid seems to be arbitrary now(?) Empty coffers for social services and be firs have meant layoffs, doors closing, services stopped. I think it’s called “Squeezing the Beast” and Leslie Munger now is a full-blown participant, forcing legislators to choose resignation. ===I think you are confused,… === I’m not, thanks. ===they accomplished zero since Rauner was elected but they are well paid=== Bills are never paid until payment has been rendered. No one has been paid since Munger decided to go against the Illinois Constitution. Purposely. Against her oath. So… there’s that. I fed you, good luck. - Huh? - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:07 pm: This “legislation” seems to be a good candidate for the Century Club. Will Munger think it is an up day when her pet bill goes down in flames? - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:10 pm: ===Providing incentives, even similar to this one, of passing a balanced budget might install some discipline. Wish we were talking about it outside of campaign season.=== Read Article IV, Section 11, Illinois Constitution. Get back to us. The measure is elected, no branch deciding who gets paid by what matrix. - Stunt double - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:21 pm: With all due respect, Mrs. Munger, the Illinois Constitution doesn’t give you the right to determine whether members of the General Assembly are doing their job. That’s something for the voters of each district to decide, as well as the members of the General Assembly who have the power to remove a member. Your incredible lack of respect for the rule of law and the constitution is mind boggling. I get your decision to withhold pay is politically popular, but it’s unconstitutional and wrong. - Ron - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:32 pm: How about a non paid legislature all the time? - Deft Wing - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:41 pm: –”How about a non paid legislature all the time?”– Pure genius. /s - walker - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:43 pm: Yes it’s a political stunt. Surprised? I give it an 8.5. And “What’s the deal?” is a pretty good line to use vs. Mendoza. - RNUG - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 5:50 pm: == RNUNG, can the Comptroller file on behalf of the legislators without naming names? == The Comptroller has zero, repeat ZERO, legal standing to file a bill with the GA. Only an actual member of the GA can file a bill for consideration. That’s one of the reasons Governors have floor leaders. - Smitty Irving - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 5:57 pm: Isn’t this a violation of the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act? - The_Equalizer - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 8:05 pm: Once upon a time the British Parliament was non-paid legislators, and oddly enough, it was entirely peopled with upper class nobles (the ones not in the Lords), rich landlords, and tycoons like Joe Chamberlain. A law was passed against much opposition to give Members a salary, so Parliament would be truly democratic. That’s why legislators deserve to be paid, so average citizens may be members, not just the Rauners of the world that have money banked already. - Secret Sam - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 10:22 pm: Wonder how she’ll answer for the rumored 3-5% raises the Governors staff received 7-1-16 - northshore cynic - Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 9:07 am: I worked with Judy Baar Topnika. I knew Judy Baar Topnika. Judy Baar Topnika was a friend of mine. Comptroller, you are no Judy Baar Topnika. - Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 9:08 am: Topinka Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.