A press release from State Rep. David McSweeney:
Rep. David McSweeney opts out of legislative pay if budget impasse means state employees do not get paid
Dave McSweeney
Springfield, IL – State Rep. David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) today sent Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger a letter asking to be removed from the state’s direct deposit payroll until further notice saying he does not want to accept his legislative salary if state employees are not getting paid.
State law allows legislators to receive pay even if a state budget agreement is not in place. However, if a state budget deal is not reached before July 15th, state employees might not be able to receive their pay.
McSweeney said by opting out of the state’s direct deposit system he is following the lead of State Rep. David Harris (R-Arlington Heights) who has also sent the Comptroller a letter opting out of his legislative pay.
“I do not think it is right for legislators to receive a paycheck when state employees might not receive the pay they have rightfully earned. We should do our job and quickly adopt a permanent budget without any tax increases.”
That is a nice gesture, but I am sure a lot of the legislators have enough money whereas some state workers are living paycheck to paycheck.
Get a deal.
Dave, have you offered legislation that would stop legislators from getting paid if no one else in the state gov was either?
The legislation number of that would be helpful for my research?
Public Act 98-0682 (PA 98-0862) made General Assembly and judges salaries a continuing appropriation, directs COGFA to conduct a revenue volatility study, and allows for up to $650 million in interfund borrowing.
http://cgfa.ilga.gov/upload/fy2015budgetsummary.pdf
John Cullerton and Don Harmon in the Illinois State Senate and Michael Madigan and Barbara Flynn Currie in the Illinois State House of Representatives sponsored Senate Bill 0274 (SB 274), which passed the both houses on May 30, 2014, was signed into law by Pat Quinn on June 30, 2014, and became effective the same date.
The Synopsis of the bill as introduced was: Amends the Technology Development Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title of the Act.
The bill that was passed had nothing to do with the synopsis as introduced, a practice which should be made illegal by the Illinois General Assembly as it makes following state legislation more difficult.
“Legislative operations” was included in the continuing appropriation legislation and defined as any expenditure for the operation of the Office of the Auditor General, the House of Representatives, the Senate, the Legislative Ethics Commission, the Office of the Legislative Inspector General, the Joint Committee on Legislative Support Services, and the legislative support services agencies.
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=0274&GAID=12&GA=98&DocTypeID=SB&LegID=69582&SessionID=85&SpecSess=
This was accomplished by modifying 15 ILCS 20, the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois (State Budget Law).
So the legislators get paid automatically, there does not have to be an appropriation passed by the General Assembly, as is necessary for most other state expenditures, rather their expenditures are continuing appropriations.
The likelihood of legislation passing to overturn the 2014 Cullerton and Madigan sponsored legislation to make legislator salaries a continuing appropriation in the Democratic Supermajority State House and Senate is just about zero.
There are plenty of state workers who appreciate the act by Harris and McSweeney to stop their salaries while the salaries of state workers are halted.
Gee I wonder if a letter from Maddy man was sent to the controller saying he will not take his pay either..?