One voice of reason amid pay-raise debate

The state Legislature never ceases to amaze. Last week's debate over their own pay raises is a classic example.

The Illinois House did the right thing. They voted to reject proposed pay increases of $7,000 next year, which would have meant that lawmakers would be making $73,000 to $100,000 a year by summer 2009. There also would be raises for judges and executive officers like the governor, who would see his salary go up $20,000 to about $192,000 a year.

With bad economic news at every turn -- gas prices soaring to $4 a gallon, food prices going up, mortgage foreclosures and private businesses cutting jobs and reducing pay -- it just doesn't send the right signal when public officials decide they need more money.

"People are concerned about homes, concerned about their jobs," said state Rep. Fred Crespo, a Hoffman Estates Democrat. "People are tapping into their pensions to pay for their child's tuition."

Yet some of Crespo's Democratic colleagues don't agree. Both in the House and, more importantly, in the Senate, where they must approve the exact same proposal to reject the raises or the raises automatically go into effect.

State Rep. Kevin McCarthy, an Orland Park Democrat, says "I think I worked hard for it. I will gladly accept that money."

Yeah, the Legislature and the governor worked so hard for their money last year they decided to hold the longest overtime session in history, costing more than $1 million. They didn't produce a state budget until the budget year was half over. And what of a capital projects program for the state? Nothing yet, despite warnings that federal transportation funding is being jeopardized while our roads and bridges continue to crumble.

So, they've accomplished little and their bosses -- the voters and taxpayers -- are struggling. But that doesn't matter much. Led by Senate President Emil Jones, a Chicago Democrat, those in power have no intention of letting go of that added money.

Jones thought it was funny to talk about needing food stamps because some of his Senate colleagues have the temerity to suggest they not take raises in this climate.

And state Sen. Rickey Hendon, also a Chicago Democrat and the one who can bottle up the rejection proposal in committee, is upset with those in the House who voted to reject the raises knowing full well the Senate won't do the same. While he has a point about those who may be two-faced when casting their vote, there really wouldn't be a problem if it wasn't a foregone conclusion that Hendon and Jones would make sure the raises are going through.

Instead, Hendon takes to task a suburban Democrat who is pushing the rejection. "People should not miss out on the fact that she's a millionaire," Hendon said of state Sen. Susan Garrett of Lake Forest. "She don't need it. So it just blows my mind how the filthy rich are always the ones saying, we don't need the raise. No, she don't."

Hendon just doesn't get it. But Garrett does.

"Let me just say that some of the legislators have missed the point if they think that they need the raise because they're not making $150,000 a year. We are here as public servants. We're not here to assume that we should be entitled to be receiving major increases every year when the rest of the state and other state employees are suffering."

Kudos for Garrett for putting the Senate "leadership" -- we use that word lightly in this case -- in their place.