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A really bad Illinois idea spreads to Northern Ireland

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Illinois

* Maybe Pat Quinn and Leslie Munger could offer up joint testimony about how this grand scheme worked out when they tried it…

Politicians in the North should be denied their salaries if they fail to reach a power-sharing agreement, a former UK minister has said.

Former Northern Ireland secretary Owen Paterson said withholding pay from MLAs might “crystallise minds” in the Northern Ireland Assembly against lengthy negotiations.

Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire pledged yesterday to keep “all options under consideration” in his efforts to form a new executive.

During an urgent statement on Northern Ireland in the UK House of Common, Mr Paterson asked Mr Brokenshire: “Would you agree with me that there is one measure that would put pressure on the parties to come back to the talks and might crystallise minds, and that would be to make it clear that should the elected members not form the executive after a lengthy period of negotiation then their salaries and expenses will not be paid from the public purse?”

And, just in case somebody over there finds this post via Google, former Gov. Quinn vetoed legislative salaries in order to get a pension reform deal. There was no pension reform deal until after a judge ordered the salaries reinstated. And former Comptroller Munger delayed paying legislative salaries last year in order to punish legislators for not reaching a budget deal. There has been no budget deal since then and a judge recently ruled that the salaries had to be paid in a timely manner.

It doesn’t work. Don’t do it.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 10:35 am

Comments

You’d think the history prior to the Good Friday Agreement mandating executive power-sharing would be incentive enough.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 11:07 am
Are there any bad political ideas we can steal from Northern Ireland? Other than sectarian violence, of course.

Comment by OH Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 11:09 am
But, but, its popular!

Comment by Langhorne Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 11:34 am
The separation of powers is there to ensure governing takes place when populist ideas try to circumvent democracy and the rule of law.

Quinn was wrong, Rauner is wrong still touting it…

Munger was quasi-wrong, far more wrong than right, then her Chief of Staff and the “assessing” was flat out wrong, making the boss all but her ignore her oath as Conptroller.

Mendoza has been wrong, but is right by making those payments now. Mendoza is also 1,000% right “appealing” this decision to make this type of move ruled upon by the ILSC.

Mendoza and Munger ran ads that purposely put into question their own idea what their oath even meant. Scary.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 11:43 am
FYI: A Northern Ireland Assembly Member’s basic salary in 2015/16 was £48,000 ($59,880.00) per year. http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/your-mlas/members-salaries-and-expenses/

– MrJM

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 2:34 pm
Anonymous - Don’t they get “free” health care via the National Health Service? That would make that salary more lucrative.

Comment by Smitty Irving Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 4:49 pm
Brings a whole new meaning to the IRA plan Biss sponsored.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 7:20 pm