Peoria Standard

State Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) recently voiced her opposition to the passage of a supplemental budget that included pay raises for numerous state leaders.

"Democrat leaders pass and governor quickly signs irresponsible spending bill," Tracy said in a recent Facebook post. She shared a news release from her office with the post that read in part, "State Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) says Democrat leaders forced through an irresponsible spending bill during a lame-duck, after-hours, Sunday-night vote on legislation that was quickly signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker." 

Senate Bill 1720 was filed by Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) on Jan. 6. It laid out increases in pay for the heads of several departments, including the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Aging, the Department of Agriculture, and others.

The governor, lieutenant governor, comptroller, and treasurer will receive pay increases with the passage of this bill, according to NPR Illinois. "Under the pay schedules outlined in the bill, salaries of the lieutenant governor, comptroller, and treasurer would increase from $143,400 to $160,900 and the attorney general's and secretary of state's from $165,400 to $183,300."

"The support by Democrat leaders of such a self-centered vote shows that their claims of working on behalf of the average Illinois resident are suspect," Tracy said in the news release. "Very few hard-working, tax-paying Illinoisans are allowed to give themselves a raise, as well as supply their boss with a pot full of cash for pet projects. Families are struggling to stay afloat financially as costs are spiraling higher as a result of bad decisions by some government officials about spending priorities."

The pay increases went into effect for legislators on Jan. 4 and for statewide officeholders on Jan. 9, The State Journal-Register reported.