Enough with the perks for pols

I have been enlightened by the articles over the last several months when it comes to salaries and pension programs that our DuPage County and forest preserve boards have set up for themselves.

Taxpayers are footing the bill for exorbitant salaries for part time positions. County board members’ basic salary reported in the Daily Herald is $50,000 per year and forest preserve commissioners are at $57,000 per year for part time positions. In addition, they get pensions and health care benefits. Really?

County board members took a $7,000 pay cut. That’s a start, but far from what needs to happen. Exorbitant salaries, pensions and health care perks for part time positions must end. The argument that we need to keep this level of salary in place to attract qualified people is absurd. There are many qualified people who would do the job for a fraction of the salary. It is time to reduce salaries and perks to weed out the public servants who have used these positions for padding retirement and getting fat at the trough.

Illinois is broke. Schaumburg state Rep. Michelle Mussman sponsored a bill to cut lawmakers salaries by 10 percent. That’s a start. Rep. Randy Ramey didn’t agree with reducing the salary level. He said that he is up for election every two years when voters could cut his pay to zero. With that attitude, Ramey will not get my vote. I hope the voters cut his pay and end his political career. Illinois is in the poor house and these politicians were at the helm while the ship was sinking. Offering perks and salaries to attract qualified people didn’t do any good for Illinois.

So much for attracting qualified people.

Linda Sabo

Carol Stream