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* You already know this from yesterday, but check out how harsh the Tribune’s coverage is today…
The Illinois Senate rejected a 7.5 percent pay increase Tuesday in the face of withering criticism from voters who feared lawmakers would sneak the raises through after they were safely re-elected in November.
But don’t cry too hard for state lawmakers—they just got a 3.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment July 1. The mere possibility that they could so quickly raise their own pay again served as a focal point for citizen outrage.
Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) had angled for more money this spring, unabashedly declaring: “I need a pay raise. I need a pay raise.” But with lawmakers unexpectedly in town this week, Jones changed his mind and allowed the vote.
Ouch.
* The NorthWest Herald’s was on the same level…
Illinois Senate President Emil Jones gained a bit of infamy in May when he told reporters, “I need a pay raise. I need a pay raise.”
He didn’t get one. He didn’t get one.
Oof.
* The Sun-Times ran an AP story, but headlined it: “No raise for Emil“…
Even after the 47-0 vote against the raises, state officials still get a 3.8 percent cost-of-living increase.
Senate President Emil Jones, (D-Chicago) voted ‘’present'’ on the raise and called opponents ‘’hypocrites'’ for objecting to the money while accepting a 3.8 percent cost-of-living increase included in this year’s budget.
* And check out the paper’s Higgins cartoon today.
Yikes.
* Related…
* Lawmakers kill pay raises
* Senators kill pay raises for state officials
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 9:30 am
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Sweetens Quinn’s encounter with Emil the other day where Emil asked Quinn who he was.
Apparently Pat is one of the ones who stopped Emil’s raise…..
Comment by Plutocrat03 Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 9:37 am
In hindsight, it was all too clever. In the end, he gets the bad press, but no money. Let’s face it, they got played by the House.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 9:45 am
Boy, how out of touch was Emil? He wouldn’t allow a vote on the pay raise during May, and when he finally allows a vote, 47 members voted to kill the payraise. Who knew?
Comment by Indigo Montoya Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 9:49 am
He calls opponents hypocrites and didn’t even vote for it! Smooth.
Comment by Heartless Libertarian Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 9:49 am
Food stamps, anyone? Food stamps?
Comment by Fan of the Game Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 9:50 am
Do you think Emil contacted the Gov yet, and thanked him for his “kill the pay raise” Special Session?
Comment by How Ironic Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 10:33 am
They met in special session down in ol’ Springfield
Where they talked about raises
And then they had to yield,
Except for COLA.
C-O-L-A COLA.
Jones will be Jones
And Mike will be Mike.
Everyone thought their pay would get a nice hike
and their COLA
C-O-L-A COLA.
Taxpayers said,”You make enough dough.”
But Emil responded, “I need a raise, though,
And my COLA,
C-O-L-A COLA.”
Well, Rickey went home just a month before
And handed out grants of $20,000 or more,
But Emil frowned and took him by the hand
And said, “Now we got to go on food stamps, man!”
Now, I’m not the world’s most political guy,
But I know what I like,
And what I like is no hike,
Except for COLA, C-O-L-A COLA…
Comment by Fan of the Game Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 10:36 am
I think the union just lost a bargaining chip in the contract negotiations.
Comment by wizard Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 10:43 am
Jones may need to rethink his strategy of teaming up with Blago and trying to take madigan down. So far the negative press has slammed Jones a lot harder then madigan. All we need now is for Jones to step away from the downward spiral that is rod and we may actually be able to get the State back on track.
I wonder if Ricky will be asking some of the folks he peppered those education grants on for a little cash to carry him through.
Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 10:49 am
Fan of the Game: so funny!!
Comment by Captain Flume Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 10:59 am
Yup, Fan, I just blew cola through my nose. And Wizard, I think the union would be perfectly happy with 3.8%. Net raise, over the increased contributions, that is.
Comment by Beancounter Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 11:11 am
Emil’s taking it on the chin for sure…. very nice Kinks reference Fan!
Comment by Vote Quimby! Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 12:57 pm
The Godfather deserves to take a beating given his role as an enabler of Governor A’s sociopahtic governing style. It’s reformism not racism Senator Jones!
We’re mad as hell about and we aren’g going to take it much longer. I’ll be pleased when the Senate Democratic caucus finally begins to see things my way. It would be wise to quit while you are on top instead of being ousted by your peers.
Comment by Captain America Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 1:33 pm
I was pretty much out of pocket yesterday, but I read some info on the pay raises in the Trib and Sun-Times. I saw the Senate Ds were offering a claim that the special session days weren’t counted on the clock on pay raises. I speculate that they are right, since pay raises were not part of the call. It also seems sensible to me then that the action rejecting the pay raises may not be valid, for the same reason. I guess we won’t find out until someone files suit after 2 more ordinary session days pass.
Comment by steve schnorf Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 1:14 am