May 8, 2008

On a vote of 94-8 Wednesday, the Illinois House has rejected a pay raise that would have boosted salaries for state lawmakers and other top state officials by more than 10 percent.

The measure now moves to the Senate but its unclear whether or not Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) would call the measure for the vote. Jones, who controls what legislation is voted on in the Senate, said late last month that he is in favor of the 12 percent pay raise which is scheduled to kick in automatically this summer unless lawmakers vote to reject it.

House Speaker Michael Madigan was one of the eight lawmakers who voted in favor of the pay raise.

Currently, lawmakers receive a salary $65,533 a year but that would increase to $72,985 a year unless the raise is rejected.

Jones and Madigan would see their salary increase from $91,824 a year to $102,547 while Governor Rod Blagojevich’s salary would jump to $192,773 from the current level of $170,917.

All Southern Illinois lawmakers voted against the pay hikes in the House.