Don't let legislators hide votes on pay hikes

I am writing to express my continued frustration regarding the seriously flawed system in which legislators' pay raises are granted.

In recent days, several lawmakers have said they believe the process needs to change because legislators vote 'yes' to reject their pay raises and vote 'no' to approve pay increases. For the past two years, I have introduced legislation to change this process. House Bill 5266 requires an affirmative vote from both the House and Senate for a pay raise. Unfortunately, it was never granted an opportunity for debate on the House floor.

Eight other states, including Michigan, Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania, set legislative pay by positive action, which means salaries are changed only if legislators vote to change it. Michigan's process was similar to Illinois until recently. In 2001, a Michigan constitutional amendment required an affirmative vote for the salary increase.

Illinois continues to use this childish, backwards procedure allowing legislators to hide behind their votes because "no" means "yes" and "yes" means "no." Regardless of whether pay raises are approved this month -- I don't believe they should be considering our current state of debt -- it is clear that this "sleight of hand" process needs to be eliminated from Illinois government. How can we ask the people of this state to make greater sacrifices when we cannot be honest with ourselves?

I plan to reintroduce this measure next year to encourage transparency for the public, and I hope other legislators will join me in support to change this flawed system.

Illinois Rep. Jim Durkin,

(R-Westchester)

Photo: Jean Lachat, Sun-Times / Lt. Governor Pat Quinn distributes petitions opposing a pay raise for legislators Monday in Chicago. ;