Lake County Gazette

Illinois state Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) is taking aim at legislators’ decision to give themselves a pay raise as part of the state’s new $50.6 billion spending plan approved earlier this month.

For the second consecutive year, the Democratic majority moved to include pay increases for legislators as a part of the state budget, with pay for lawmakers now set at $89,675 a year, according to an AdVantageNews.com report.

“This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen,” McLaughlin said in the report. “I want to apologize to the taxpayer. I actually went out last year and thanked and apologized and asked were you aware that we passed a pay raise at 11 o’clock at night on a Thursday. They were shocked.”

McLaughlin voted against the proposed pay hike, the report said. He also stated that serving as a legislator in Springfield is essentially a part-time post. With the pay jump, Illinois lawmakers are among the highest paid in the nation and earn more than three times as much as legislators in neighboring Iowa.

GOP legislators, including state Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) were quick to note the pay hikes come at a time when tax breaks Democrats approved are set to expire. That means taxes will return for groceries, and the gasoline tax is poised to increase fuel prices for Illinois drivers.

“It will be the second one this year, Jan. 1st and now another on July 1st, so people of Illinois are going to pay more in taxes, that's a given,” Caulkins said in the report.

Gov. JB Pritzker has offered his support for the work done by Democratic legislators.

“This budget makes transformative investments in the children and families of Illinois while building on our record of fiscal responsibility,” the governor said in a statement quoted by AdVantage News.

McLaughlin is now serving his second term representing Illinois' 52nd District after defeating Democrat Mary Morgan last November with 53% of the vote, a Ballotpedia report said. He has served on the Elections & Campaign Finance, Ethics & Elections, Appropriations-General Service and Revenue & Finance committees.