Illinois Lawmakers Slip Pay Increase Into Last Second Budget

If approved by Gov. Pritzker Illinois lawmakers will receive a $1,600 raise next year. 

The budget, which shockingly was submitted only a few hours before the deadline, included the first raise for Illinois lawmakers since 2008. One state senator summed up the population's feelings pretty succinctly.

WREX - “If we think we deserve one, then stand up and say it,” said Sen. Dale Righter, a Mattoon Republican who was the first to point out the missing COLA freeze to majority Democrats. “Don’t try to slip it through in the last hours of session because that’s what people resent.”

And he's 100% right. I'm not here saying that they don't deserve a $1,600 a year raise. They have been denied a cost-of-living raise for more than 10 years. It's the act of sneaking one through in the 11th hour that won't sit well with voters.

The Illinois House had no official comment on the situation when does not bode well for them. If it's warranted, say so. Don't hide. We don't like that.

If signed by Pritzker the raise would go into effect July 1