Illinois state lawmakers boost their own pay
Taxpayers usually get told what raise they will receive. They also get told what raises they will give: to state lawmakers, and by those same lawmakers.
Back in Springfield for the second year of the 104th Illinois General Assembly, Illinois state lawmakers will be getting a raise – that they gave themselves.
Their 5% raise, the maximum allowed under Illinois law, means state lawmakers will make up to $128,000 a year. They are considered part-time, putting in fewer than 70 days in Springfield.
Only three other states pay their legislators more.
Since 2019, Illinois lawmakers have given themselves several raises, totaling $30,000 in base pay alone. That 44% increase in the $98,000 base pay is nearly double the 25.6% salary increase Illinoisans have seen since 2019. Lawmakers are paid for committee assignments and leadership positions that drive pay up to as much as $128,000.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker argues higher pay will help attract and retain talent in government. Others argue well-paid lawmakers “are less susceptible to corruption and can devote more time to constituents.” Illinois lawmakers aspire to change from part-time citizen legislators to “a full-time professional governing class.”
But their aspirations and arguments run up against an unflattering reality.
People are leaving the states at the top of the legislative pay list. California, New York and Illinois combined have lost 2.5 million residents since the pandemic, with Illinois losing around 420,000 residents since 2020.
They tend to be inefficient at developing their infrastructure, the Reason Foundation found. Illinois lawmakers are among the highest paid yet ranked 36th for effectiveness.
The states with the highest-paid lawmakers also have high corruption. Illinois remains the second-most corrupt state in the nation.
The face of Illinois corruption is Michael Madigan, 83, who ruled the Illinois House for 36 years, longer than any legislative leader in U.S. history. Known as “The Velvet Hammer,” he quietly used his power to build a political machine that controlled Springfield and converted that power into personal and political gain.
A federal jury found Madigan guilty on 10 counts of bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud, concluding he used his office to reward allies with no-show jobs and contracts in exchange for favorable legislation. U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey called it “abuse of power at the highest level.”
Paying lawmakers good salaries does not eliminate corruption. Instead of giving lawmakers raises faster than the Illinoisans who must pay those raises, Illinois should combat corruption by tightening lax conflict of interest rules. Lawmakers should be barred from working as lobbyists and property tax attorneys.
With the new legislative session underway, Illinois leaders have the opportunity to fix the reasons residents are leaving – higher taxes, burdensome regulations hurting employment and a lack of available housing.
They could also give taxpayers a break and their images a needed polish: no raises in 2026.