WHEATON – As all layers of Illinois government continue to be rocked by federal corruption investigations, State Representative Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) is pushing a measure to reform legislator pay. That measure, House Bill 818, would prevent a member of the General Assembly (GA) from receiving a full months pay if they resign before the month ends.
“This is a clear loophole in government,” said Grant. “Legislators who break the law can still receive full compensation for an entire month, even if they were only in office for the first few days of that month. Why are we paying somebody for a full months’ worth of a work when they worked for less than a week?”
Under current law, members of the General Assembly are paid an annual salary in twelve equal monthly installments paid on the last working day of each month. However, as Grant referenced, current law states that a member who has held office during any part of a month is entitled to compensation for the entire month.
This pay loophole has come under scrutiny again after the recent resignation of now former State Representative Luis Arroyo (D-Chicago). News broke on October 28, 2019 that Arroyo had been arrested on federal bribery charges, but he refused to resign from the House until November 1. By delaying his resignation until November 1, he will receive a full taxpayer funded paycheck for the entire month.
To correct this loophole, HB 818 changes the General Assembly Compensation Act so that GA members will only be compensated for days they actually held office during a given month.
“This is another embarrassing example of the self-protecting status quo that has damaged our state for years. It is pretty clear that we need to end this practice and save taxpayers money,” concluded Grant.
HB 818 was filed back in January, but it was sent back the House Rules Committee. Grant said she hopes recent events will finally allow it to be given a fair hearing.
For more information about HB 818, Click Here.