Illinois Officials Defend Pay Raises, Tell Carter to Mind His Own Business
CHICAGO. Dec. 5 (UPDÛÓIllinois officials who voted themselves hefty pay raises and incited the ire of federal inflation fighters have told President Carter in no uncertain terms to .keep his nose out of their business.</br></br>Gov. James R. Thompson said through an aide today it would be up to legislative leaders to decide if a special legislative session should be called to initiate a salary rollback.</br></br>Carter and Alfred Kahn, the administrationÛªs top inflation tighter, charged the raises violate the administrationÛªs voluntary anti-inflation guidelines, which limit pay hikes to 7 percent.</br></br>Alderman Dick Simpson, one of the few independents on the city council and an opponent of the pay hikes, said simply: ÛÏI donÛªt think this honorable body gives a damn what the president of the United States thinks.Û</br></br>Board, which voted itself a 30 percent raise. State legislators promptly followed by overriding ThompsonÛªs veto and giving themselves a 40 percent hikeÛÓform $20,000 to $28,000 annually ÛÓand $8,000 increases foe the governor and other top officials.