SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Bruce Rauner today vetoed a measure passed by the General Assembly, that would have pushed through raises for lawmakers and other elected state officials.

Rauner says in his letter to lawmakers that under current circumstances, the State cannot afford to give legislators a raise.
He notes Illinois legislators are already among the highest paid in the United States, earning $68,000 to $95,000 per year for part-time service, plus per diem payments and mileage reimbursement. Without changes he recommends, legislators would receive raises ranging from $1,356 to $1,905 for Fiscal Year 2016 and increases in both the per diem amount and mileage reimbursement rate.

Rauner recommended that Senate Bill 1354 be changed to eliminate raises for legislators, elected officers of the Executive Branch, and agency directors and other highly compensated State officials, and to freeze the per diem amount and mileage reimbursement rate.

He says a similar provision has been enacted for each of the past six fiscal years.
Rauner’s veto message comes hours after the start of the new fiscal year and as lawmakers continue to try to develop a spending plan to keep state services operational.