We want your money!!!

Is Emil Jones serious??? He is attacking Senator Susan Garrett who spoke out against the Democrats pay raise grab. My opponent, Representative Karen May voted IN FAVOR of the pay hike. She also suppored a 9% plus increase in her pay last year.

Not just 'filthy rich' who object to lawmakers' pay hike
5/12/2008

Editorial, Pantagraph

Senate President Emil Jones and Sen. Rickey Hendon might have been directing their caustic remarks at Sen. Susan Garrett for opposing a legislative pay increase.

But their comments were also insulting to taxpayers - particularly those struggling to make ends meet while their elected representatives are poised to receive their second double-digit percentage pay increase in two years.

All three are Democrats.

Hendon called Garrett of suburban Lake Forest the senator from "Richville."

He also said, "It just blows my mind how the filthy rich are always the ones saying we don't need the raise."

It's not just "the filthy rich" who are saying that, Sen. Hendon. Those opposing the 11.7 percent increase include taxpayers who make far less than the Legislature's base pay of $65,353 - along with a $125 per diem to cover their expenses each day they are in session.

Then there's Jones who quipped, "I've got to get me some food stamps," while walking near Garrett after the heated discussion on pay increases.

On top of his base pay, Jones receives an additional $26,471 for serving as Senate president. In other words, even without the raise, his salary is approaching six figures.

For Jones to joke that he needs food stamps without the raise shows arrogance and callousness toward people in his Chicago district and elsewhere in Illinois who need food stamps to feed their families and meet their basic needs.

Furthermore, most lawmakers will receive pensions their constituents can only dream of.

Although Jones and Hendon are full-time lawmakers, many of their colleagues have other jobs that supplement their pay.

While no one gets "rich" working strictly as a state lawmaker in Illinois, no one is heading to the poorhouse on those salaries.

The House voted 94-8 on Wednesday to reject the pay increases recommended by the Illinois Compensation Review Board. However, both chambers must vote to reject the increases in the same resolution in order to block them - and its questionable whether the matter will even come to a vote in the Senate, at least not with a "clean" bill.

Hendon is suggesting a different version that would muddy the political waters by barring any lawmaker who voted against a pay increase from receiving it if the pay increase eventually takes effect. That's ludicrous.

If the Senate approves Hendon's proposal or some different bill on which the House doesn't act, the raises will take effect and taxpayers will be left holding the bag -again.