Fortner Rejects Pay Raises for Legislators

     “During these hard economic times, I don’t understand how the Democrat leaders of this state would allow a single taxpayer dollar to be used for a pay raise for legislators,” Rep. Fortner said. “We have a lot of hardworking representatives. However, as a taxpayer I don’t think that the Democrat leadership in this state deserves a pay raise. The state has a litany of problems including $1.7 billion in unpaid bills, lack of a capital program to repair and maintain roads and bridges and a $600 million deficit in its current budget. On top of Democrat leaders not solving any of these problems, Senate President Jones along with other Democrat representatives openly suggested they needed a pay raise – what are they thinking?”

     House Joint Resolution 132, which Rep. Fortner voted in favor of, disapproves of the Compensation Review Board’s 2008 report, which recommends cost of living adjustments and a salary increase for members of the Illinois General Assembly. The resolution was adopted by the House and awaits further consideration in the Senate.

     Even if a pay raise is rejected by both the House and Senate, the Compensation Review Board has the option of recommending that past pay raises be bundled into the current year’s recommendation. State Representative Mike Fortner filed House Bill 255 which would not allow members of the General Assembly to receive retroactive pay raises.

     “Representatives did the right thing by rejecting their salary increase. My hope is that the Speaker will call my legislation for a vote. It’s important that every salary increase that is rejected by the General Assembly is permanent,” said Rep. Fortner.

     For additional information, Rep. Fortner can be contacted at (630) 293-9344.