Now that the state no longer implements furlough days upon employees – appointed or elected – Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon says she wants to make it easier for a lawmaker to refuse part of his or her pay.
Currently, Illinois lawmakers are prohibited from adjusting legislative pay – up or down – for the current term. That is, a salary adjustment could only take effect after the next election.
“The legislature would not be able to cut everyone’s pay during their term, but an individual could voluntary say, I’d like to accept less than my full salary,” Simon – a candidate for comptroller – says of her proposal.
Simon says she now gives some of her pay back to the state. She says the state still calculates taxes and pensions based on the full salary, though.