State reps, rivals spar over pay raise options

Democratic state Reps. Fred Crespo of Hoffman Estates and Paul Froehlich of Schaumburg, eager to reject a scheduled pay raise for Illinois legislators, say they'll donate their raises to charity if they can't be stopped.

Crespo's Republican rival for the 44th District seat, Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54 board member Peggy Brothman, said Crespo's position is the only politically viable one available to an incumbent in the face of a pay raise.

"It's a nice gesture, but he could probably help a lot more people by looking at the tax increases that are being talked about," Brothman said.

Similarly, Schaumburg Township District Library Trustee Anita Forte-Scott, who's Froehlich's Republican foe in the 56th District, questioned the incumbents' motivation.

"It was their Democratic caucus that put that pay increase in place," Forte-Scott said. "It seems like something very handy to bring up now."

As the pay raises wouldn't take effect until next year, she suggested neither incumbent is putting anything on the line with Election Day being this November.

Forte-Scott said she agrees lawmakers are the last one who should get raises while the state budget isn't fixed but suggested returning the money makes more sense than donating it to charity.

Crespo has called on Senate President Emil Jones to allow a vote on Crespo's House Joint Resolution 132. Froehlich is a co-sponsor. The resolution seeks to cancel the raises, which could be automatic if not voted down by the Senate.

Brothman acknowledged that without Jones' authority to make the vote happen, Crespo is taking the only avenue available to express displeasure with the raise.