Duffy looks to eliminate legislative committee stipends
Despite the Illinois legislature's two-year self-imposed salary cuts, Lake Barrington Republican state Sen. Dan Duffy wants to cut deeper.
Citing the findings of a June Daily Herald investigation that showed taxpayers spent $1.7 million last year on leadership stipends for state legislators, Duffy introduced a bill Tuesday that would eliminate such perks for committee leaders. The savings would translate to roughly $1 million a year.
“I have always believed that we (the Senate) keep adding or creating new committees so that the majority (leaders) can give out salary increases to every member by making them a ‘chairman' of a committee,” Duffy said in an email. “We do not need all these committees. By eliminating the bonus in pay, we will save much-needed revenue. And I guarantee, a lot of these committees will disappear.”
According to data provided by Senate President John Cullerton's and House Speaker Michael Madigan's offices, 41 senators and 60 state representatives received committee leadership stipends that amounted to $9,851 extra a year on top of their $64,716 base salaries. State pension officials noted that these stipends could help boost a legislator's retirement benefits.
“Both committee and leadership stipends are solely distributed for work performed by senators filling those positions,” said Cullerton spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon. “If legislation is going to be advanced to change that process, we will review it and assign it to a committee for a fair hearing.”
In addition to the committee leadership posts, another 35 party leadership positions result in salary bumps as well. Duffy's bill does not to address those stipends.
Of the state's 177 legislators, three-quarters receive leadership stipends, including Duffy. Only New Yorkers pay more for General Assembly leadership stipends, tallying $2.5 million last year. Illinois taxpayers spent $13.1 million last year on salaries and stipends for legislators. Another $1.7 million was spent on legislative expenses like food, mileage and lodging last year, according to state financial records.