CHICAGO (AP) — A judge says two former Illinois state lawmakers who argued that a freeze on raises violated the state Constitution can collect back pay.
Comptroller Susana Mendoza is pledging to appeal the decision and called the former lawmakers “shameless grifters.”
Michael Noland of Elgin and James Clayborne of Belleville sued, arguing that laws freezing General Assembly salaries from 2009 to 2016 were illegal because lawmakers are barred from changing their pay during a current term.
Lawmakers typically would receive annual inflation raises. Noland could get about $71,000 while Clayborne is in line for $95,000.
