McSweeney Refuses Pay Hike

From The Center Square:

As Illinois lawmakers see pay hikes take effect, one pays it back

Illinois lawmakers are getting the bigger paychecks they voted for themselves in June, but one state representative has sent his back to the state’s coffers. 

Illinois lawmakers have received their cost-of-living adjustments that were included in a fiscal year 2019 budget bill. 

David McSweeney

State Rep. David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, worked with Comptroller Susana Mendoza to have his raise returned to the state. 

McSweeney voted against the budget implementation plan, a sort of supplemental legislative piece that accompanies the state’s budget, in part because it didn’t contain language that halted an automatic cost-of-living adjustment for state lawmakers.

“Anyone who voted for the budget implementation bill was voting for a payhike,” he said Friday. “I’ve been a leader every year in trying to actually cut legislative pay because we need to lead by example.”

Lawmakers are getting at least $1,600 more per year, costing taxpayers an estimated $280,000.

McSweeney said that he successfully paid back the amount of the pay hike to the comptroller’s office.

It’s not legal for lawmakers or constitutional officers to outright refuse their pay. McSweeney said he had been working with Mendoza’s office on sending the raise that he objected to back into the state’s coffers.

“The law says ‘should’ so you have to actually take it,” McSweeney said.

He said Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the four legislative leaders have made a “victory lap” out of the budget and infrastructure bills, which raised a number of taxes and fees. 

“There’s no reason to take a victory lap at the expense of taxpayers of this state,” he said.

A number of lawmakers, McSweeney included, have declined to take pensions because they disagree with participating in the underfunded systems. 

McSweeney praised Mendoza’s office for its work in lawfully returning the money.

“The state’s coffers are happy to accept any little bit of help folks can spare so if anyone wants to donate their cost-of-living adjustment back to the General Revenue Fund, we will be happy to work with them on it,” said Abdon Pallasch, spokesman for Comptroller Susana Mendoza. 

No other state lawmakers have inquired about returning raises, Pallasch said. 

Outside of the Illinois legislature, McSweeney is a successful investment specialist whereas some other lawmakers have no other sources of income. He said lawmakers should reject the pay hike as a matter of principle, regardless of their financial situation and expects a number of others will soon. 

As of Friday afternoon, representatives of the four legislative leaders either weren’t available to comment or said they hadn’t spoken with any other lawmakers about returning the pay increases.

The matter of refusing pay hikes could become a center-stage issue in August when a hearing is set regarding a lawsuit by two former state legislators claiming the refusal of the COLA pay increases and other furlough pay during the budget impasse are unconstitutional. If they prevail, lawmakers, both current and former, may be entitled to years of additional pay as well as the corresponding hikes in their pensions that are based on pay.



Comments

McSweeney Refuses Pay Hike — 5 Comments

  1. But Angel LLavunna his mini-me, Acosta, clamor for bigger raises!

  2. That’s the Progressive DEMOCRAT way here in Illinois, CK.

    More is NEVER enough for them and our esteemed gluttonous governor Jumbo Boy Pritzker will
    happily oblige.

    After all, it’s only taxpayer money and there’s ALWAYS more where that came from.

  3. People forget that President Trump donates his salary to charity. You have to wonder whether Barack Hussein took the presidential salary or whether his sidekick, sleepy Joe Biden took the vp salary or donated it to charity. What about Pelosi who is reportedly very rich or John Kerry who was very rich after marrying a widow woman. Does she or did he give his salary to charity?

  4. Trump is making money hand over fist because of his illegitimate presidency.

  5. Illegitimate presidency?

    dentblah (Franks) are you still keening about that?

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