Senate set to oppose state pay raises

SPRINGFIELD The state Senate is poised to reject a plan to raisethe salaries of top state officials, after Republicans on Fridayuniformly sided against the idea in private.

When asked if the election year plan was dead in the Senate,Senate President James "Pate" Philip (R-Wood Dale) said, "I thinkthat might be the understatement of the year.

"I just think we're trying to provide some tax cuts for people,hold the budget down. How can we turn around and give electedofficials and bureaucrats a pay increase?" Philip said.

The Compensation Review Board has recommended a series of payincreases for elected officials, including Gov. Ryan, legislators andjudges. The pay raises will take effect unless rejected by bothhouses of the Legislature.

No matter how legislators vote, they and officeholders willautomatically receive a 4.1 percent cost-of-living increase thissummer.

On top of that, they would receive 2 percent increases this Julyand again in July 2001 if the review board plan is not rejected. Forsome, the 2 percent raises would be delayed until the start of theirnew terms.

A legislator's minimum pay is $53,581. If all the raises wereapproved, here would be the progression: With the 4.1 percent cost-of-living increase, the minimum would become $55,724 this summer. Thedual raises would push the pay to $57,953 next year. Next year's cost-of-living increase would go on top of that.

Philip said his members would reject the pay raise recommendationnext week, but the House must act similarly to block the increasesfrom taking effect.

Aides to House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) said Democratswant to review the advisory panel's recommendations, which will befiled Monday in Springfield, before reaching any conclusions.

"I haven't read the report, and people who serve on thiscommission do try to do their homework," House Majority LeaderBarbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago) said.

Not everyone was quick to condemn the proposed pay hikes forlawmakers, reasoning that the current level of pay may keep qualifiedpotential officeholders in higher-paying jobs in private business.

"You're basically paying for what you get," said Sen. Donne E.Trotter (D-Chicago), head of the Legislative Black Caucus. "What isthe incentive for anyone qualified to want to come down here andimmerse themselves into (the) process?"