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* From the Illinois Policy Institute’s news service…
Three-quarters of Illinois’ state lawmakers will be accepting their per diem for last month’s 10-day special session, which will cost taxpayers at least $145,000.
According to a response to an Illinois News Network Freedom of Information Act request, of the 177 state lawmakers, only 46 denied the .39 cent-per-mile travel reimbursement and a $111 a day per diem for the special session that started June 20 and ended June 30. Although lawmakers were in Springfield for a few days in early July, they were not eligible for the per diem because that was not special session called by the governor.
Because the per diem and travel reimbursement vouchers have not been sent from the House and Senate to the comptroller’s office, the comptroller’s doesn’t have an exact total of what ultimately will be paid out to lawmakers from the 10-day special session.
But, excluding the 39 cent per mile travel reimbursement – which only covers one round trip per week – all state lawmakers who will accept the $111 per day per diem will cost taxpayers at least $145,410 for last month’s special session.
* Those who declined…
In the Senate (6 Democrats, 10 Republicans): Neil Anderson, R-Rock Island; Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington; Daniel Biss, D-Evanston; Dale Fowler, R-Harrisburg; David Koehler, D-Peoria; Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill; Iris Martinez, D-Chicago; Sam McCann, R-Plainview; Laura Murphy, D-Des Plaines; Christine Radogno, R-Lemont (retired); Sue Rezin, R-Morris; Tom Rooney, R-Rolling Meadows; Paul Schimpf, R-Waterloo; Heather Steans, D-Chicago; Jil Tracy, R-Quincy; and Chuck Weaver, R-Peoria.
In the House (2 Democrats, 28 Republicans): Patricia Bellock, R-Hinsdale; Avery Bourne, R-Raymond; Daniel Brady, R-Bloomington; Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro; Tim Butler, R-Springfield; John Cabello, R-Machesney Park; Jerry Costello, D-Smithton; C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville; Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs; Mike Fortner, R-West Chicago; Randy Frese, R-Paloma; Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville; Sheri Jesiel, R-Winthrop Harbor; Sara Wojcicki Jimenez, R-Leland Grove; Jerry Long, R-Streator; Michael McAuliffe, R-Norwood Park; Tony McCombie, R-Savanna; David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills; Charlie Meier, R-Okawville; Thomas Morrison, R-Palatine; Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg; Lindsay Parkhurst, R-Kankakee; Reginald Phillips, R-Charleston; Nick Sauer, R-Lake Barrington; Dave Severin, R-Benton; Allen Skillicorn, R-East Dundee; Keith Sommer, R-Morton; Ryan Spain, R-Peoria; Daniel Swanson, R-Woodhull; and David Allen Welter, R-Morris.
*** UPDATE *** Senate President Cullerton also rejected his per diem.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jul 12, 17 @ 10:31 am
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Some live close enough to go home for the evenings. I’m not sure how much nobility there is in giving up per diem and Mileage (specifically ‘once’ back and forth, when several made more trips)
It’s not a very smart precedent to set. Before anyone calls a special session, there should be the factor of cost to consider.
It’s their personal prerogatives, but I wouldn’t factor it in as an “atta boy” in my thought process. More of a SMH.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Jul 12, 17 @ 10:41 am
Who cares.
Lets see if IPI ever deny there salaries or benefits.
Comment by Real Wednesday, Jul 12, 17 @ 10:45 am
IPI would like serving in the General Assembly to be something only the wealthy can do, so they’re framing accepting money as compensation for work as something not noble. And they’re controlling the conversation on this right now.
Comment by CCP Hostage Wednesday, Jul 12, 17 @ 10:46 am
Another click-bait story served hot and fresh by our friends at the IPI. True journalism at work…/s
Comment by Under Influenced Wednesday, Jul 12, 17 @ 10:49 am
Has to be an att bot there.
If they had done their jobs right in the first place, no special session would have been necessary.
Comment by plutocrat03 Wednesday, Jul 12, 17 @ 10:49 am
Well they considering they passed a budget, they might actually have deserved the special session per diem.
Comment by Chicagonk Wednesday, Jul 12, 17 @ 10:49 am
IPI would like serving in the General Assembly to be something only the wealthy can do, so they’re framing accepting money as compensation for work as something not noble. And they’re controlling the conversation on this right now.
….
Exactly.. Republicans believe it too.
Comment by Real Wednesday, Jul 12, 17 @ 10:50 am
Big deal! Gimmicks like this are old and worn out,we all know its mostly about them trying to gain a political advantage for themselves.
If they want to change the way there paid put it up for a vote.
No news here in my view.
Comment by Augie Wednesday, Jul 12, 17 @ 10:53 am
interesting list. probably not just about what IPI wants.
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Jul 12, 17 @ 10:54 am
From OODA loops to radical candor this is fun
Comment by Rabid Wednesday, Jul 12, 17 @ 11:03 am
It’s the perfect story for IPI. It highlights government “waste,” it predominantly makes Democrats look bad, it has no nuance whatsoever, and it feeds their narrative - politicians are making money while they take more of yours.
These are the people now running the State of Illinois.
Comment by Montrose Wednesday, Jul 12, 17 @ 11:05 am
Guess Rauner won’t be picking up the tab like he said he would/s
IPI folks complained they shouldn’t get paid if they didn’t do their jobs. Well they passed a budget so I guess they did their jobs, whether the IPI likes that outcome or not.
Comment by DuPage Bard Wednesday, Jul 12, 17 @ 11:07 am
This just goes to show either republicans are more into playing politics or more republicans have enough money so they don’t need the per diem.
Comment by Real Wednesday, Jul 12, 17 @ 11:13 am
It is simply a pietistic gesture of the privileged
So I guess those who need to utilize the stipend are lesser?
Are only the leasure/privileged class allowed to be legislators?
Talk about implicit class warfare.
But that’s what republicans are these days
Privileged and leisurely
Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jul 12, 17 @ 11:19 am
I have noticed that IPI and Rauner always speak against government workers salaries and benefits, but they never speak against the money going into political campaigns or campaign finance reform. Rauner says he is a volunteer that doesn’t take a paycheck, but he isn’t volunteering to not use his personal fortune in his campaign.
Comment by Real Wednesday, Jul 12, 17 @ 11:28 am
Well said, Real @ 11.28
Comment by d.p.gumby Wednesday, Jul 12, 17 @ 11:57 am
“This just goes to show either republicans are more into playing politics or more republicans have enough money so they don’t need the per diem.”
Let’s say either of this was true, are people really going to gripe over legislators not taking their per diems? Are you going to ignore that Democrats also rejected their per diem?
Comment by Clark Wednesday, Jul 12, 17 @ 12:01 pm
===- Honeybear - Wednesday, Jul 12, 17 @ 11:19 am:
It is simply a pietistic gesture of the privileged
So I guess those who need to utilize the stipend are lesser?
Are only the leasure/privileged class allowed to be legislators?
Talk about implicit class warfare.
But that’s what republicans are these days
Privileged and leisurely===
Um, I know a couple of those GOP folks and their day jobs, and they aren’t exactly what you would call the privileged sort. At all. But I suppose it’s fair for you to paint with a broad brush while you detest the same behavior.
Comment by Shemp Wednesday, Jul 12, 17 @ 12:11 pm
I shouldn’t care about this.
But somehow it bugs me that both Cullerton & Radogno, who absolutely did their jobs, were among those who declined, while Madigan cashed his check.
Comment by Robert the Bruce Wednesday, Jul 12, 17 @ 12:18 pm
Robert the Bruce–a lot of house members don’t have jobs other than their job as state rep. Those per diems pay for the lodging while they’re in Springfield. They need them. Madigan doesn’t, but denying his could make his members look bad for taking it. It’s not too dissimilar from Herbert Hoover taking the new enacted presidential pension he didn’t need to spare Harry Truman the indignity of taking it alone because he needed it.
Then again, maybe he just wanted the check. Who knows? But the governor’s the one who called the special sessions. If anyone wants to gripe about the costs, they should gripe at him.
Comment by George Wednesday, Jul 12, 17 @ 12:45 pm
After seeing the update on Senator Cullerton I’m shocked that IPI had an inaccurate release.
Comment by Past the Rule of 85 Wednesday, Jul 12, 17 @ 1:05 pm
DuPage Bard.
It will be interesting to see what pay…I mean donates that Rauner provides in the next go-around to the Republican legislators campaign funds.
Comment by LINK Wednesday, Jul 12, 17 @ 1:23 pm
Yeah right Shemp. Go ahead and tell me about how they are suffering everyday people. Go ahead
Republicans- real republicans , are members of the monied investor/owner privileged class.
If you aren’t amongst the monied and privileged then you aren’t really amongst them. You’re being used.
To be fair the DEMS do the same thing with the poor.
But I have to hand it to Repunlicans who have managed up convince regular people that the Republican Party cares about them.
Rauner bought the ILGOP
This is all about destroying labor for big business
My proof
Small business centers, DCEO, economic development under Rauner—–totally ignored and neglected
EDGE tax incentives for big business
Hundreds of millions
You have to be rich to be in that club
So go on now. Please tell me
How they are regular folk
I highly doubt it. Politics is a money sport
You don’t have the money you don’t play
Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jul 12, 17 @ 4:01 pm
-Honeybear-,
The one point above that not all the GOP members belong to the wealthy class is accurate. Off the top of my head, I can think of one who gave it up that could really use it.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Jul 12, 17 @ 9:47 pm
RNUG- No I get it. I am making the point that only Raunerites, feckless, privileged Raunerites hold power. True conservatives need to stand up and rebuke the elitist, classist stance and actions of Raunerites and reclaim. I’m going to goad until they do.
I am with you, OW, a guy, and other true conservatives as always. Raunerites I’m going to go after like a pit bull.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Jul 13, 17 @ 7:04 am
The reimbursement rate for mileage seems awfully thin. The US government rate for mileage is higher than 39 cents. It is about 53 cents.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 13, 17 @ 9:25 am