A Public Health Department bill that was uncontroversial morphed into an automatic legislative pay raise bill under the guidance of House Speaker Mike Madigan.

Here’s how the Legislative Digest describes its contents:

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends various Acts to make changes in State programs that are necessary to implement the Governor’s fiscal year 2016 budget recommendations. Effective July 1, 2015.

Not much detail, I think you would agree.

Here is a summary of Governor Bruce Rauner’s July 1st amendatory veto message from the same source:

Recommends that language be added that: amends the General Assembly Compensation Act by establishing the fiscal year 2016 mileage reimbursement rate and allowance for lodging and meals for General Assembly members; and amends the Compensation Review Act by providing that members of the General Assembly, State’s attorneys, other than the county supplement, elected executive branch constitutional officers of State government, and persons in certain appointed offices of State government, including the membership of State departments, agencies, boards, and commissions, whose annual compensation previously was recommended or determined by the Compensation Review Board, are prohibited from receiving and shall not receive any increase in compensation that would otherwise apply based on a cost of living adjustment, as authorized by Senate Joint Resolution 192 of the 86th General Assembly, for or during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015. (Adds reference to: 25 ILCS 115/1 and 25 ILCS 120/6.3 new)

 

The full message can be read here.

The specifics about legislators are below:

Governor Bruce Rauner addressing a Joint Session of the Illinois General Assembly.

Under these circumstances, the State cannot afford to give legislators a raise. Illinois legislators are already among the highest paid in the United States, earning $68,000 to $95,000 per year for part-time service, plus per diempayments and mileage reimbursement. Without the change recommended below, legislators would receive raises ranging from $1,356 to $1,905 for Fiscal Year 2016 and increases in both the per diem amount and mileage reimbursement rate.

I recommend that Senate Bill 1354 be changed to eliminate raises for legislators, elected officers of the Executive Branch, and agency directors and other highly compensated State officials, and to freeze the per diem amount and mileage reimbursement rate.

Let’s take a look at the roll calls.

First the House, where the language that the Governor vetoed was added:

All local state representatives voted against the bill.

Finally, the Senate vote on the bill:

All local state senators voted against the bill.