Raises For...Everyone

I bet you swallowed hard, like I did, upon learning that state lawmakers gave themselves a $1600-dollar raise during the emergency three-day legislative session last week. In fact, almost everybody in state government is getting a bump.

But don’t worry, the Governor says he won’t take his raise.

At last glance, 1.1 million Illinoisans are unemployed. At this moment, the state has $7.4 billion dollars in unpaid bills. Some estimates have the state’s pension system underfunded by $200-billion dollars.

It is mind-boggling. It is insulting. It is a by-product of the unholy alliance between House Speaker Mike Madigan and J.B. Pritzker.

The $40-billion dollar budget is actually two billion dollars higher than last year’s and spends $6-billion dollars more than tax revenues will bring in. It’s the perfect backdrop for the Democrats need to pass a new tax plan in the November election.

And yet, you have to shake your head in astonishment that the budget that is going to Governor Pritzker includes pay raises for legislators. It also includes $261-million dollars in automatic pay increases for state workers.

Now, to balance things….here’s the list of cuts the state will be making as a result of the current situation…

(Crickets)

Will the Governor sign the budget bill? You bet cha. But don’t worry, he’s not gonna take his raise.