Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation Monday morning pushed through the final days of the last general assembly that includes a supplemental spending bill that further boosts the state’s rainy day fund, helps hospitals, and gives legislators and top government officials a raise.
The measure also includes $ 400 million for enticing businesses to come to Illinois and $ 160 million to handle the influx of immigrants sent from Texas. But most of the debate centered on the pay increase for lawmakers, state agency heads, and constitutional officers that are included in the bill. Senator Elgie Sims of Chicago.
“The Governor wanted to attract the best and the brightest to the state of Illinois to be agency directors. So the same is true for the legislature. We have a citizen legislature and what we are trying to make sure we accomplish is we have individuals that are the best and the brightest serving in the “people’s” senate.”
The increases didn’t sit well with downstate Senator Darren Bailey.
“This has got to be the epitome of disgrace. I’ve witnessed everything the last four years but to sit here in the final days and suggest these types of dollars for those positions is absolutely wrong.”
Pritzker says the idea for cabinet pay raises originated with him as an effort to retain top talent and make Illinois’ salaries commensurate with other large states. But Pritzker says he didn’t suggest increases for lawmakers who he says maintain the authority to determine their own salaries.
Under the bill, lawmakers’ salaries would increase to $85,000 annually, up from just over $73,345, a nearly 16 percent increase to their base salary. Lawmakers also received per diem reimbursements and stipends for leadership positions. Additionally, the measure would add new leadership positions within any caucus that maintains a supermajority, which Democrats currently do, that are eligible for stipends.
The bill also includes $ 850 million for the rainy day fund and $ 460 million for hospitals in Illinois.
