By Greg Bishop/Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – Three-quarters of Illinois’ state lawmakers will be accepting their per diem for last month’s 10-day special session, which will cost taxpayers at least $145,000.
According to a response to an Illinois News Network Freedom of Information Act request, of the 177 state lawmakers, only 46 denied the .39 cent-per-mile travel reimbursement and a $111 a day per diem for the special session that started June 20 and ended June 30. Although lawmakers were in Springfield for a few days in early July, they were not eligible for the per diem because that was not special session called by the governor.
Because the per diem and travel reimbursement vouchers have not been sent from the House and Senate to the comptroller’s office, the comptroller’s doesn’t have an exact total of what ultimately will be paid out to lawmakers from the 10-day special session.
But, excluding the 39 cent per mile travel reimbursement – which only covers one round trip per week – all state lawmakers who will accept the $111 per day per diem will cost taxpayers at least $145,410 for last month’s special session.
While his name was not listed in the FOIA response, Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, said he did file the paperwork to turn down the per diem.
“The governor asked us not to, I agreed with the governor,” Brady told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin. “We shouldn’t get paid extra to do the work we should have done in a more timely manner.”
State Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, said he didn’t think it was appropriate for him to accept payment.
“You do’t get performance-based (pay) when you miss deadlines in the private sector,” Brady said. “Therefore I felt it was not correct, for me, at least to take that.”
State Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield, said the per diem doesn’t make sense for him because he lives just two miles from the capitol building.
“I spend my nights at home and I’m able to eat at home and everything, [but] certainly I think it’s the right thing to do to not take per diems,” Butler said.
Butler said most Springfield-area lawmakers follow that line of thinking.
State Reps. Avery Bourne, R-Raymond; Sara Wojcicki Jimenez, R-Leland Grove; C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville; and State Sens. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill; and Sam McCann, R-Plainview, all denied their per diem and travel reimbursements.
Bourne said last month the special session was “not the time to get money to stay in a hotel in Springfield, it’s crazy.” She said it was just time for lawmakers to get back to work.
There was no letter responsive to INN’s FOIA request showing state Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, denying the per diem and travel reimbursement.
Other state lawmakers travel long distances from across the state to get to Springfield.
However, Democratic state Sen. Heather Steans lives in Chicago and said it wasn’t right to get the extra pay for having to come back for overtime.
“I did not … want to be seen or have any perception of getting any compensation to be doing this, the work of actually just passing a budget,” Steans said.
Steans said she has the financial means to deny the extra pay and doesn’t pass judgement on any lawmakers that accept per diem.
State Rep. Ann Williams, D-Chicago, will be accepting the per diem. She said the extra pay helps those without an “excessive amount of income” be able to serve in the General Assembly.
“I’d love it to be a volunteer job,” Williams said. “I wish I had the financial resources to volunteer for the people of the state of Illinois. But I think I’m among the majority that just don’t [have the financial resources].”
Williams said she may consider not taking per diem in the future, but that the issue is more of a gimmick to score political points.
There was no letter responsive to INN’s FOIA request showing Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, or House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, denying the per diem or travel reimbursement. Retired Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, and House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, denied the extra pay.
The complete list of lawmakers who declined their per diem and travel reimbursements, according to FOIA responses, include the following:
In the Senate (6 Democrats, 10 Republicans): Neil Anderson, R-Rock Island; Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington; Daniel Biss, D-Evanston; Dale Fowler, R-Harrisburg; David Koehler, D-Peoria; Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill; Iris Martinez, D-Chicago; Sam McCann, R-Plainview; Laura Murphy, D-Des Plaines; Christine Radogno, R-Lemont (retired); Sue Rezin, R-Morris; Tom Rooney, R-Rolling Meadows; Paul Schimpf, R-Waterloo; Heather Steans, D-Chicago; Jil Tracy, R-Quincy; and Chuck Weaver, R-Peoria.
In the House (2 Democrats, 28 Republicans): Patricia Bellock, R-Hinsdale; Avery Bourne, R-Raymond; Daniel Brady, R-Bloomington; Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro; Tim Butler, R-Springfield; John Cabello, R-Machesney Park; Jerry Costello, D-Smithton; C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville; Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs; Mike Fortner, R-West Chicago; Randy Frese, R-Paloma; Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville; Sheri Jesiel, R-Winthrop Harbor; Sara Wojcicki Jimenez, R-Leland Grove; Jerry Long, R-Streator; Michael McAuliffe, R-Norwood Park; Tony McCombie, R-Savanna; David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills; Charlie Meier, R-Okawville; Thomas Morrison, R-Palatine; Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg; Lindsay Parkhurst, R-Kankakee; Reginald Phillips, R-Charleston; Nick Sauer, R-Lake Barrington; Dave Severin, R-Benton; Allen Skillicorn, R-East Dundee; Keith Sommer, R-Morton; Ryan Spain, R-Peoria; Daniel Swanson, R-Woodhull; and David Allen Welter, R-Morris.
