Gov. investigating 'midnight' pay raises

SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Pat Quinn said Wednesday he wants to know whether the Illinois Department of Transportation was the only agency to hand out "midnight raises" -- salary increases for high-ranking officials just before Gov. Rod Blagojevich was booted from office.

An Associated Press review found that 12 IDOT managers got raises in January for no clear reason, such as a promotion or additional duties. The raises averaged $6,000 a year and one was nearly $10,000, amounting to an 11.5 percent increase.

They were in addition to regular cost-of-living increases given to most IDOT employees.

The raises took effect Jan. 16, about two weeks before lawmakers removed Blagojevich.

"Midnight raises, if that occurs or has occurred, we'll figure that out and determine whether or not it was appropriate," Quinn said.

His office said the governor's chief of staff and general counsel "are reviewing any potentially inappropriate raises passed in the final weeks of the previous administration. The Quinn administration remains committed to a fair, transparent and fiscally responsible government."

IDOT spokeswoman Marisa Kollias said the raises were necessary to keep "seasoned management and staff" on board. The agency's personnel chief and director of finance and administration were among the managers who got the extra money.