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Boland, Verschoore vote against stopping lawmakers' raises
Originally Posted Online: April 22, 2009, 6:45 pm
Last Updated: April 22, 2009, 7:23 pm
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Print this story | Email this storyLast Updated: April 22, 2009, 7:23 pm
By Pete Nickeas, Sng3@springnet1.com
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SPRINGFIELD -- Each year, Illinois lawmakers do nothing to receive a pay raise. Rather than voting on whether to give themselves and other elected officials pay raises each year, Illinois lawmakers years ago structured the law to make annual pay raises automatic. To skip a raise, lawmakers in both chambers must vote against it. Elected officials are on track to get a 3 percent raise next year, but lawmakers passed on an opportunity Wednesday to vote on skipping the raises. State Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville, used a parliamentary maneuver to have the matter considered. Black said lawmakers should not be getting any raises on the heels of a probable income tax increase and at a time when the statewide unemployment rate is nearing 10 percent. "We can go one year without a cost of living raise," Black said. "It will not balance the budget. It will not significantly reduce the billions of dollars in debt. But it says we're willing to make that sacrifice." House Republicans tried to get Black's measure out of committee Wednesday. However, all but three Democrats -- including state Reps. Mike Boland, D-East Moline, and Pat Verschoore, D-Milan -- voted to keep it there. Unless the matter is revisited, the pay raise will take effect. 
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