Kotowski wins initial support for General Assembly pay cuts
Taxpayer savings from furloughs, cuts total nearly $900,000
SPRINGFIELD, IL – State Sen. Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge) won approval Wednesday from the Senate Executive Committee for legislation that freezes state officials’ pay and imposes salary cuts to lawmakers.
“In these economic times, public servants must sacrifice,” said Senator Kotowski, chairman of a key Senate budgeting committee. “It is clear that families and businesses across Illinois are doing more with less. As servants of these taxpayers we need to do the same.”
Senator Kotowski’s proposal– House Bill 3188 – prohibits raises and freezes the pay of state lawmakers, the governor, other statewide officials, state’s attorneys and members of numerous state boards and commissions.
The total savings to taxpayers from freezing salaries will exceed $330,000.
In addition, Kotowski’s plan requires a nearly 5 percent cut to lawmakers’ pay. That amounts to at least a $3,100 cut for each member of the House and Senate.
The total savings to taxpayers from cutting lawmakers’ pay will top $548,000.
This is the fourth straight year that Kotowski and the Illinois Senate have voted to freeze state officials’ salaries and cut lawmakers’ pay.
These reforms are part of an overall effort to restore fiscal health to the state of Illinois. Senator Kotowski is leading the effort through his work to overhaul how the state spends taxpayers’ money.
“We’re taking steps to restore responsibility to our budget process and earn back the trust of taxpayers by doing what they do every day: establishing priorities and living within our means,” Kotowski said.
