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Rep. Bellock votes to eliminate pay raise for lawmakers

on Tuesday, July 28, 2015
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House of Representatives on Tuesday voted 101-1 to reject the automatic 2% legislative pay raise scheduled to go into effect at the end of this month. HB 576 was co-sponsored by Deputy House Minority Leader and State Rep. Patti Bellock (R-Hinsdale). The legislation also prevents increases in mileage, lodging and meal reimbursements for the remainder of the new fiscal year that began on July 1.

“At a time when children and families in need are at risk of being cut off from the services they depend on for an extended period and as homeowners continue to bear an increasingly high property tax burden, our focus must be on ending the budget stalemate and enacting bipartisan reforms that will put Illinois back on a path toward job growth and opportunity,” Rep. Bellock said.  “We should not have had to spend one minute of our time debating whether to accept a pay raise while the families and taxpayers of Illinois are waiting for us to get our job done.” This week was not the first opportunity for lawmakers to reject their pay raise. On May 28, Rep. Bellock co-sponsored legislation (HB 4225) to prevent legislators, statewide elected officials and appointees in positions from receiving a 2% cost of living adjustment (COLA) this year. However, the legislation was never allowed a hearing or vote by the House of Representatives.

HB 576 will be brought to the State Senate floor on August 4, which marks the next day that the Senate will be in session. When passed, the bill will go to Governor Rauner for his signature.