Righter Helps Sponsor Bill to Prohibit Lawmaker Pay Raises

State Sen. Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) is co-sponsoring legislation that would prohibit a pay raise for lawmakers. Under current law, lawmakers are scheduled to receive a Cost of Living Adjustment increase, or COLA, to their salary July 1.

House Bill 5760 would ensure lawmakers not receive their scheduled COLA, and ensure they would receive no increase to their daily per diem and mileage reimbursement rate.

“Any pay raise for lawmakers is wrong,” Righter said. “This legislation better fly out of the Senate and land on Gov. Rauner’s desk ASAP. I hope this can provide some bipartisan momentum as we continue our budget negotiations with my Democrat colleagues.”

House Bill 5760 passed the House April 18 with an overwhelming majority and is now in the Senate Government Reform Committee.

The legislation would also prohibit automatic raises to statewide constitutional officers and State’s attorneys, among others.