Government officials promote pay raises for government officials

Copley has the story by Adriana Colindres

I like Bob Redfern's proposal to cut the General Assembly pay in half and move them back to sessions every two years. That's not going to happen, though.

When asked Friday about how the Senate might vote, Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, said: "I'm not saying which way or direction it will go. I know many lawmakers expressed that they need a pay raise."

Under the board's recommendations, the base pay of lawmakers would rise from $57,619 to $63,143.

The governor's salary would go from its present level of $150,691 to $165,138. The salaries of the attorney general and secretary of state would increase from $132,963 to $145,711, while the salaries of the lieutenant governor, comptroller and treasurer would increase from $115,235 to $126,283.

OK, which Senate Democrats are willing to give themselves pay raises when we don't have enough psychiatric beds for the mentally ill and are leaving them in jail instead of treating them to prevent further violence when they do get out?

UPDATE: This letter writer to the PJStar is mad about Blagojevich flip-flopping on promises to re-open something at the Lincoln Developmental Center.

Are we starting to see a pattern from this Governor and the Democrats in charge neglecting the mentally ill and developmentally challenged? Sounds like the GA needs to earn their pay raise and make sure that money is being spent wisely and effectively.