Harper says he won't support lawmaker pay raises

After Lucent Technologies eliminated her job, Lois Bugg Shadrick opted to go back to school to get her graduate degree because of limited job opportunities.

The 45-year-old former projects manager from Westmont said something has to change. She met 13th Congressional District candidate Scott Harper last summer at Downers Grove's Heritage Festival and told him of her struggle.

"He really listened to me and I felt he genuinely wanted to help," she said.

She and other supporters stood behind Harper during a Friday news conference in which the Lockport Democrat pledged if elected to vote against any congressional pay raise.

Harper also chastised his opponent, Hinsdale Republican Judy Biggert, a five-term incumbent, whom the challenger said has seen a $33,000 pay increase during her 10 years in Washington, with an annual salary between $165,200 to $169,300.

"It's important we ask ourselves a critical question: Who really deserves a pay raise?" Harper said. "These people (noting his supporters) are working hard and playing by the rules. They are the ones who I will fight for in Congress."

Biggert's campaign said the challenger often distorts the truth. They said the pay increases are just cost-of-living adjustments, based on inflation, built into the annual appropriation bill. If Biggert were to vote against that, her camp said, it would cripple important local projects.

"He should really check his facts before he goes out making these kind of claims," said John Noak, a Biggert spokesman. "She has never voted herself an actual pay raise."

The Green Party's Steve Alesch of Warrenville also is seeking Biggert's seat.