New Illinois General Assembly will collect more money than their predecessors

Posted on January 9, 2023
Illinois capitol
That nugget was buried in a bill which does many other things – for one, giving the governor a “closing fund” to help when businesses are considering whether to locate in Illinois. (WJBC file photo)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – The lawmakers who will take their oath of office Wednesday will be paid a base salary of $85,000, up $14,000 from the pay of the previous General Assembly.

That nugget was buried in a bill which does many other things – for one, giving the governor a “closing fund” to help when businesses are considering whether to locate in Illinois. Gov. JB Pritzker wants the ability to pay agency directors more money, out of concern Illinois does not measure up to other states in attracting top talent.

During Senate debate Sunday, State Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) challenged sponsoring State Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) to walk to the rear of the chamber and ask the security guards working there, “Am I worth $85,000?”

Sims responded that it would be nice for more people to be millionaires, but we don’t all benefit from government subsidies to run our businesses.

Unspoken: those would include the farm subsidies Bailey collects.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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