Question of the day
Tuesday, Jan 10, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Capitol News Illinois…
Pritzker told the Associated Press Saturday that the idea for cabinet pay raises originated with him as an effort to retain top talent and make Illinois’ salaries commensurate with other large states. Lawmakers, he also told the outlet, maintain the authority to determine their own salaries.
Sen. Elgie Sims, D-Chicago, reiterated that the raises were meant to help Illinois attract “the best and the brightest.”
“I would love for all of us to be able to be millionaires and billionaires, I would love for all of us to be able to be wealthy,” Sims said. “That’s just not the case.”
* AP…
“We don’t want a Legislature that’s only made up of the wealthy,” said House Majority Leader Greg Harris, the legislation’s Chicago Democratic sponsor who retires Tuesday. “We want people who can run for office, serve their community, but also be able to pay for their family and kids.”
The last raise for legislators came in 2008, and concerned about the optics, lawmakers voted against any increase each year until 2019, when the House surprised the Senate by backing out of an agreed-to freeze on cost-of-living increases. A locked-in COLA increase has since been adopted.
Pritzker originally commissioned a national salary study of jobs comparable to those of his cabinet. The led to pay raises for 21 agency directors who answer to the governor. […]
“People are willing to take a discounted salary off of what they might get in the private sector to come to public service, but you really have to be somewhat competitive. People are putting their kids through college or they’re paying their home mortgage or their rent. …,” Pritzker said. “We just want to be competitive and bring great people and then retain great people in state government.”
* SJ-R…
Senate Republicans, including former gubernatorial candidate and state Sen. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, focused on the pay raise portion of the bill.
“This legislation increases legislative pay to $85,000, which I think is absolutely pathetic,” he said, comparing the pay raise to average salaries in his and Sims’ Senate districts. “We don’t need more money to do this job.”
* WCIA…
[Gov. Pritzker] defended the bill, saying it’s important for government workers to remain close to private sector jobs and many positions have not received pay raises in over a decade.
“While I know people are willing to take a discounted salary off of what they might get in the private sector to come to a public service, you really have to be somewhat competitive,” the governor said on Saturday. “People are putting their kids through college, or they’re paying their home mortgage or their rent. You can’t ask people to take 50% of what they were taking in the private sector.”
* Illinois Policy Institute…
In a lame-duck session that included a scramble to pass bills on abortion and gun control, state representatives put through a bill for mid-year spending adjustments that included the pay raises. They added $11,655 per lawmaker, raising the base to $85,000 annually for a legislature that is technically part-time and as of 2019 was the fourth-highest paid in the nation.
In reality, many state representatives will get more than $85,000 if the bill becomes law because of salary bonuses for committee responsibilities and leadership positions ranging from $10,000 to $16,000.
The bill passed the Illinois House 63-35, with about 20 members not voting, some of them already gone for the weekend.
The raise in base pay is in addition to 2.4% annual cost-of-living increases lawmakers gave themselves in 2019 during another secretive move. Those increases have lawmakers making about $73,345 and hit every July 1.
* Fox Illinois…
Senator Neil Anderson (R-Moline) released a statement on Monday saying:
Fiscal responsibility doesn’t exist in the state of Illinois and this vote was just another example of politicians lining their own pockets while residents continue to suffer from high taxes and monetary mismanagement. While millions of people are suffering from inflation costs, legislators are giving themselves a 17% pay raise.
* ILGOP…
“If Illinois Democrats have proven one thing over the years, it’s that they love enacting unpopular policies after elections to avoid the ire of voters during election season. They passed cashless bail and postponed the gas tax increase until after the election, and Chicago Democrats deferred property tax bills - all to avoid accountability with voters. Now, they’ve voted to raise their own pau. Illinois voters want fiscal sanity and responsible government, not tone-deaf pay raises for the Democrats and their allies,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy. “It’s clear that this is self-benefiting overreach by Democrats reading the wrong mandate from the November elections. If Governor Pritzker signs this bill into law, Illinois voters should hold these legislators accountable next election.”
* The Question: What’s your position on the legislative pay raise? Make sure to explain.
- Flying Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 11:22 am:
“If Illinois Democrats have proven one thing over the years…”
It’s that they beat you like a rented mule every time there’s an election.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 11:30 am:
There are elections.
I’ve yet to see an overwhelming and significant difference in legislative numbers based on a candidate taking, say, a pension, or not… a legislator accepting a pay raise… or “not” (see: grandstanding)
My take is this:
It’s not a 9-5, M-F gig.
Friends, family, neighbors, even the unknown folks… yeah, they don’t care if you’re at a kids event, dinner with a spouse, even, and I know of this as a thing, even at wakes or funerals. They are always “on”. Always. They earn their pay, most are *still* underpaid, frankly.
But here’s my line in that sand folks talk about.
There’s a sacrifice being made with all the power(s) either given electorally or as an appointee.
You wanna make “real” dollars, go to the private sector, unlimited ceilings too…
But to be fair and equitable to the thoughts and beliefs of serving the state, raises are due, and let the voters decide to punish.
Voters shouldn’t punish, but they have that opportunity, which is all that can be asked.
- DuPage Saint - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 11:32 am:
I am just glad that this is a part time position. I don’t think Illinois could afford to pay them for a full time job
I certainly hope the COLA remains for them. I do not want them hurt by inflation
- Cool Papa Bell - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 11:33 am:
“self-benefiting overreach by Democrats”
So all Republican lawmakers will be returning their recent pay increase?
$85,000 is not an excessive starting wage for a lawmaker.
Running an agency requires tons of time and input and is a job with out much security. So I’m fine with it.
- clec dcn - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 11:35 am:
Nothing to explain really inflation and pay goes up. I expect to get paid more now if I work no questions. Frankly it is a job I would not enjoy doing so to me not worth even what they are making. I probably in the minority.
- Suburban Dad - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 11:35 am:
So the people who voted against the pay raise or did not vote at all, will reject the pay raise. Sounds good to me. Vote no, but take the raise. What a bunch of cowards.
- vern - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 11:40 am:
I’m in favor. They had no COLA for 11 years, and the highest inflation since the 70s will far out-pace the 2.4% COLA. Given the level of inflation, this is functionally keeping salaries steady.
Long-term, I’d love to see further legislative pay increases, along with restrictions on outside income. Being a state legislator should be a full time job, at a salary level high enough to attract competent people who aren’t currently wealthy. I hope most Illinoisans would agree that making the law is a more important job than, say, defensive backs coach at UIUC. Maybe one day the salaries will reflect that.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 11:40 am:
I a fine with the raise, it is the first in a while.
Don Tracy and the ILGOP could have simply said “thanks”.
- low level - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 11:42 am:
Bad idea. Especially voting on it during the lame duck session. Try selling this to everyone that’s been laid off over the past 2.5 years or so.
I will agree that if you voted no, don’t take the raise.
- Smoke - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 11:43 am:
The Democrats’ arguments that this is a reasonable, above-board decision is undercut by the fact that they introduced it as a surprise vote late at night on a Friday in lame duck session, and then rushed it through the Senate and got the Governor to sign it an hour before the deadline.
If legislative pay should be normal and reasonable, then introduce, debate, and pass the bill in a typical way. You can’t give the bill the hidden news dump treatment and then act surprised when the third rail stigma continues.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 11:44 am:
=== Try selling this to everyone that’s been laid off over the past 2.5 years or so. ===
OK, most of those people were laid off during COVID. And the vast majority of them are back at work now. So, try to stick with reality here.
- Cook Street - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 11:46 am:
The lame duck legislative pay raise in 1978 led to the reduction in the size of the legislature. 2023, not exactly a profile in courage moment for the House and Senate.
- low level - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 11:56 am:
== undercut by the fact that they introduced it as a surprise vote late at night on a Friday==.
Exactly. The reality is they knew it would be unpopular.
- Twitter Cat Lady - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 12:03 pm:
Seems fair enough.
The median income for a single earner in Illinois is $61k. A job with above-average time demands should get above-average pay. Shoot, I make almost $73k per year, and at least I get to clock out and mentally leave my job every day.
- JoanP - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 12:07 pm:
I have no problem with it. It may be a part-time job, but, as OW points out, it’s a part-time job where your constituents/employers expect you to be responsive 24/7.
=comparing the pay raise to average salaries in his and Sims’ Senate districts.=
So what’s the alternative? Do you want individual legislators to have different salaries based on the average in their district? That’s just nuts.
- Socially DIstant watcher - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 12:08 pm:
Bailey makes plenty of federal farm subsidies; he doesn’t need a legislative pay increase.
If your goal is to shrink government, then maybe you don’t need to spend evenings and weekends learning how government can help your constituents. But if you want to improve government, that takes personal investment of time and effort. These pay increases are overdue.
Not to mention that many of the people with the time to seek out legislators, including business interests and their lobbyists, take home many times what legislators make.
Do you want legislators worrying about their bottom line, or their constituents’ bottom line?
- 1st Ward - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 12:09 pm:
If it was combined with further limits on outside income i.e. not receiving income as a property tax appeals lawyer etc. that is in direct contrast with your legislative duties.
- Misery Loves Company - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 12:11 pm:
This raise is long overdue. And as several comments have noted, NO WAY is being a legislator a part-time job.
- Captain Obvious - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 12:21 pm:
I think with the raise it is now truly the best part time job in the world.
- Dave Dahl - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 12:21 pm:
Agree w Cool Papa Bell.
I emailed the IL GOP to ask what the lawmakers, who will receive the money regardless of how they voted, will do with it.
Write a check to the state treasury? Give it to charity? Keep it?
Their response: “We’re going to defer to individual lawmakers.”
- Give Me A Break - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 12:24 pm:
There simply is no “good” time for pay raise for lawmakers according to many.
In bad economic times the talk is “we can’t afford this, we have budget lines that need help”.
In good times, “they don’t need this, none of them are hurting and we should be spending the money paying off bills and pension debt”.
And in every scenario the saying is always, “they don’t do anything and it’s a part time job, they are hardly in Springfield”.
So, tell me just when is the right time for this?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 12:31 pm:
===now truly the best part time job in the world===
Tell us that you have no idea what an Illinois legislator’s life is like without telling us that you have no idea what an Illinois legislator’s life is like.
Do you think they just sit at their desks and vote five-six months out of the year?
- low level - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 12:37 pm:
Staff salaries should be increased 50% at least …
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 12:40 pm:
===Exactly. The reality is they knew it would be unpopular.====
How many will lose seats because of it?
That’s the reality that will matter most.
===Tell us that you have no idea what an Illinois legislator’s life is like without telling us that you have no idea what an Illinois legislator’s life is like.
Do you think they just sit at their desks and vote five-six months out of the year?===
A good measure of how one knows the goings and doings of, say, legislators is this thought of compensation at any given level.
The reality is that for some, even beyond scrutiny, you couldn’t pay them enough for these jobs because they know all these jobs entail.
- Ares - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 12:44 pm:
You get the quality of governing and public servants which you pay for, especially for the legislators who have no outside job or income.
- thechampaignlife - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 12:59 pm:
Good pay attracts good talent, and lawmakers are no exception. I would like to see the pay tied to the state’s performance. Something like median household income, or a multiple thereof, could work. As lawmakers improve conditions for everyone, they would personally benefit as well. You could even follow the head coach model and throw in some incentive bonuses for beating national averages, moving up on some national ranking, bond rating increases, etc.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 1:00 pm:
I’m fine with the raises. I’m just going to use this moment to beat my favorite dead horse - the Gov staff private pay supplement. I think that needs to stop and they should be paid competitive salaries with public funds. The private supplement is a conflict of interest.
- low level - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 1:04 pm:
==How many will lose seats because of it?==.
Dont know but at least a fair number are worried it will become an issue given the manner in which it was done. Look, I get it. Legislators work really hard and the job is even more difficult now w social media, etc. i just think they should have done it when more people were paying attention.
And while we are on the subject of recruiting and retaining good executive branch staff, how about also making that same argument for legislative branch staffers?
- Near West Side - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 1:11 pm:
Some legislators have additional sources of income, but just as many are full-time lawmakers. They are entitled to a fair salary. I guess my question for the legislators who are criticizing the salary increase is what they are going to do with the additional pay? Do they plan to contribute the difference in pay to charity?
- Loyal Virus - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 1:21 pm:
This is a very good thing- I know reps who have had second jobs to support their families. It overdue. Also concur w/Norseman - staff should be paid competitive wages. Can they organize a union?
- Joe Bidenopolous - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 1:21 pm:
=Being a state legislator should be a full time job, at a salary level high enough to attract competent people who aren’t currently wealthy.=
Couldn’t agree with this more.
I’m fully in favor, it’s been way too long. That said, there’s no way you could get me to do that job for $85k.
And someone said staff should get a 50% raise. Lemme tell ya folks, those are some of the most underpaid, overworked folks on the planet. They should get 100% raises.
- low level - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 1:57 pm:
==And someone said staff should get a 50% raise. Lemme tell ya folks, those are some of the most underpaid, overworked folks on the planet. They should get 100% raises.==
Totally agree. Thats why I said “at least 50% increase”
- SWIL_Voter - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 2:22 pm:
Totally in favor. I explored running for a legislative seat, and was actually interviewed to fill a vacated position, but never could have done it because of the massive pay cut I’d have to take to spend even more time away from my family. I’m 39 and a middle manager basically. So who do you want in these seats? If it’s infeasible for me and my family, who is it feasible for? The rich and connected mostly
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 2:57 pm:
I support this and it was overdue. With respect to timing, it’s a political punching bag whenever it comes up, there is no “good” time.
With respect to being “part time,” that concept is BS. It means that many folks could never run for and hold office. How many employers will let an employee be gone during session, special session, for committee work, and for all the other things that happen on a random schedule? It works for some (ie. lawyers, rich people), but most people I know would not be able to cut that deal. (And, when it comes down to it, many/most constituents expect their legislator to be available full-time.) If we truly want “citizen legislators” that represent a broad cross-section of the populace, we need to pay a living wage that allows them to be full-time on the job.
- Tom Keane - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 3:02 pm:
The best run state in thd country should have the highest paid legislators . And why not up COLA With double dipping hard to do anymore it’s only fair
- bear 3 - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 3:14 pm:
Reasonable……………..
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 3:27 pm:
YES. Much like minimum wage increase there is never a good time to hike salaries. Comp review board was a good idea, but fell behind. NOW reps and senators ought to work on a local accounting. Many spend out their pockets for district office costs and community events. $85K does not go as far as it once did.
- Odysseus - Tuesday, Jan 10, 23 @ 10:17 pm:
$85K is an entirely reasonable salary.
The totality of legislative pay is not even rounding error in the state budget.
The people who complain about it really don’t have a case.
- Chicagonk - Wednesday, Jan 11, 23 @ 9:41 am:
For it - Honestly I think the state would be a lot better run if it was $200,000. You would certainly get better quality candidates.
- anon2 - Wednesday, Jan 11, 23 @ 6:20 pm:
Some legislators work harder than others, just like other professionals. The populists would slash salaries by freezing them forever so only the rich could afford to serve.