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Today’s quotable

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* Lots of legislators say they will donate their extra pay from ending legislator furloughs to charity. Tier One target state Sen. Mike Jacobs isn’t positive about what he’ll do…

Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, who was paid almost $74,569 last year, said he “probably” would donate money from his first higher paycheck. “Let’s see if we ever get it first.”

Sen. Jacobs said he was skeptical that lawmakers who promised to donate the extra money to charity actually would do so. “A lot of people say they’re going to give it to charity, but how do you know they ever do?”

He said he would earn the extra pay by working the 12 previously unpaid furlough days. He also pointed out that lawmakers had not received a cost of living pay increase for years.

“I didn’t come to government to get rich, but I got bills to pay,” Sen. Jacobs said.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jul 10, 14 @ 2:36 pm

Comments

Ever consider going into property tax law?

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Jul 10, 14 @ 2:40 pm
I see that Senator Jacobs is as eloquent back home as he is on the Senate floor.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Jul 10, 14 @ 2:46 pm
Refreshing candor

Comment by John a logan Thursday, Jul 10, 14 @ 2:47 pm
Fair statement on his own income. Bad mistake to question his colleagues’ integrity on this. I’ve watched a couple of them hand the checks to the charities.

Comment by walker Thursday, Jul 10, 14 @ 2:50 pm
$74,569 is 50% higher than the average household income in his district, plus he will get his lavish pension when he retires. And he knew what the salary was when he ran for office. If he wants more money, he should turn to the private sector or get a part-time job…since his elected position is technically a part-time job.

Comment by Frustrated Voter Thursday, Jul 10, 14 @ 2:58 pm
I actually respect him for this position. It’s not a politically easy position to take. I believe in fairly compensating legislators. They do, in fact, have bills to pay.

Comment by Just Observing Thursday, Jul 10, 14 @ 2:59 pm
No. You have bills to pay. Can we not, at the very least, expect our esteemed Senators to use proper grammar in official statements?

Comment by Jimbo Thursday, Jul 10, 14 @ 3:04 pm
If a pol says he’ll give it to charity, most will think its grandstanding, even if they do give it away. If a pol says “nope, I’m keeping it”, he’ll get more hell for selfishness than being a truth-teller. The middle ground is Jacob’s - “Maybe, but most of them are grandstanding (or lying)

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 10, 14 @ 3:07 pm
It is so nice to hear one of our legislators confirming to us the sincere goodness, empathy and compassion within each of them.

“A lot of people say they’re going to give it to charity, but how do you know they ever do?”

Yeah. We’re just a bunch of naïve jerks, aren’t we Mike?

You are such a charming gem of a guy - no wonder voters keep sending you to Springfield.

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Jul 10, 14 @ 3:10 pm
He will probably be donating his extra cash to his campaign fund. Honestly, that’s his favorite charity.

Comment by Case-IH Thursday, Jul 10, 14 @ 3:20 pm
=== He also pointed out that lawmakers had not received a cost of living pay increase for years. ===

Boo Hoo! MC’s have not had a raise in 8 years, plus they had a couple of years of furloughs to deal with. These folks also don’t have access to a campaign fund and with few exceptions get dinners paid for by lobbyists during many working days.j

I’m also not impressed by those solons giving up their former furlough pay. While it’s nice for the lucky charities, these guys are simply perpetrating political stunts to garnish votes.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Jul 10, 14 @ 3:22 pm
Mike Jacobs says out loud what legislators would like to say. They don’t pay that guy enough for the show he puts on, especially with the likes of the multi-million dollar dopes like Oberweis.

Comment by Realistic voter Thursday, Jul 10, 14 @ 3:26 pm
Since he claimed to be “paying for this sins of our (his) father(s)” with his pension vote, he shouldn’t mind giving a little for the greater good.

Comment by Jeanne Dough Thursday, Jul 10, 14 @ 3:31 pm
If Mike Jacobs is a Tier 1 target, it ain’t gonna be a very good year for us

Comment by steve schnorf Thursday, Jul 10, 14 @ 3:41 pm
These are the kinda statements that are especially sticky. Mike, don’t talk.

Comment by A guy... Thursday, Jul 10, 14 @ 3:49 pm
Hog with the Big nuts
Jackpot
F-ing Golden
I got bills to pay

Awesome Illinois Politician Quotes

Comment by Wumpus Thursday, Jul 10, 14 @ 4:11 pm
The story here is a politician told the truth! /snark

I thought the response was refreshingly real. No BS, no spin, etc..

Comment by anon Thursday, Jul 10, 14 @ 5:53 pm
You gotta love Jacobs, the man always speaks his mind. People don’t give him credit, but he worked hard to win in 2012, and I’m sure he will again. Not to mention his father, Denny, is probably one of the most respected pols along with Lane Evans in the Quad Cities. I believe Jacobs will win handily in 2014, I’m more interested in the cross over numbers from people voting for Rauner than back to Jacobs. Can’t see Quinn winning that Senate district or Congressional District for that matter.

Comment by Almost the Weekend Thursday, Jul 10, 14 @ 10:08 pm
Let them all donate into the pension funds the legislature has misused all these years

Comment by M Python Thursday, Jul 10, 14 @ 10:26 pm
==I got bills to pay==

There ya go, Mikie. Tellin’ it like it is! I comPLETEly understand his remark/point of view.

Sure–we all like to give to charitable causes, and that’s all well and good, but, hey, first things first! God Almighty DOES expect us, I humbly think, to try and be responsible Stewards of what we DO get and have, financially, and pay our debts/creditors as best as we can as well!!–always ensuring that there IS ALso SOMEthing one is willing to give out of one’s abundance–or lack thereof–to others with lesser means or special, worthy needs…! But Charity begins at HOME!

Comment by Just The Way It Is One Thursday, Jul 10, 14 @ 11:27 pm
As I recall, when these furloughs were first implemented the legislators said that since they have no set work schedule they figured they got paid for 365 days per year. Each of their furlough days cost them 1/365th of their pay, not the 1/250th that it cost other employees. Real stand up guys.

Comment by Late to the Party Friday, Jul 11, 14 @ 7:12 am