McConchie Tries to Overturn Court’s Order to Pay Legislators

A press release from State Senator Dan McConchie:

McConchie sponsors legislation following court ruling on legislator pay

Springfield, IL… In response to the recent court ruling authorizing the prioritization of state legislators’ pay over other outstanding obligations, State Senator Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) immediately filed an amendment to Senate Bill 0989 that would allow greater discretion when issuing salary payments for members of the General Assembly.

McConchie said this would allow Illinois’ other fiscal obligations to be prioritized over legislators’ and Executive Branch officers’ pay.

Dan McConchie

“There is no reason why the court should force legislator pay to be prioritized over the hundreds of vendors, providers and agencies who have been waiting months for reimbursement from the state,” said Sen. McConchie.

“This bill seeks to right that wrong and allows the state’s interests and well-being to be placed ahead of legislators.”

Last spring, former Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger opted to place legislators’ paychecks in line with the other overdue bills, as the state struggled to meet its obligations due to the ongoing budget impasse. In December, a lawsuit was filed by six legislators, arguing for their legislative pay to be prioritized ahead of hospitals, human services organizations and universities that are also waiting for payments from the state.

Today, the Cook County Circuit Court ruled in favor of the six legislators, citing Illinois law, which provides a continuing appropriation for legislative salaries. In response, Sen. McConchie’s bill amendment seeks to specifically authorize the Comptroller to delay salary payments to legislators and Executive Branch Constitutional Officers.

Under this proposed legislation, the monthly salary payment to legislators may be delayed if there are insufficient funds in the state’s General Revenue Fund to pay all other obligations within 90 days after a voucher requesting payment is submitted to the Comptroller.

“This is a common sense proposal. Legislators who are failing to pass a balanced budget should not have their pay be put in front of the line over that state’s most vulnerable,” said McConchie.


Comments

McConchie Tries to Overturn Court’s Order to Pay Legislators — 2 Comments

  1. While I agree politicians should get paid last (for that matter, we should pay them less too), I’ve never gotten really excited about this issue.

    Everybody still has to get paid.

    Courts have ruled on this already.

    And the only reason this even gets talked about is because there is no budget.

    Fix the budget and we wouldn’t be talking about it.

    Everybody could get their checks on Friday.

    Instead we get superficial rah rah look at me I’m taking on the politicians antics like this.

    What is it going to do?

    It’s a good political boost, but delaying politicians’ pay for a few months doesn’t do a thing to fix the budget.

    And most conservatives knew this issue was superficial and politically motivated when Pat Quinn did it.

    For some reason, now that Republicans are behind it, we’re supposed to treat this differently?

    I don’t buy it.

    Do your job.

    Pass a budget.

  2. I wonder why no one has mentioned separation of powers, on which I believe this decision was based.

    Similar logic prevents police from detaining legislators on the way to Springfield, although they may be ticketed.

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