Metro East Sun

In a Jan. 9 Facebook post, Illinois state Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) reacted to the passage of a supplemental budget—which would raise salaries for several departments within the government—with anger and surprise. 

"Outrageous for legislators to raise their own pay in this economy!!" she said in the post.

In her Facebook post, Bryant shared a link to a statement she released on her office's website.

“Legislators voting to increase their salaries is a complete and utter insult to each and every Illinoisan who is struggling to keep up with rising energy bills and putting food on their table,” she said in the statement. “By voting to increase their salaries by roughly $12,000, the Majority Party has made it clear to the people of our state that their own personal interests are more important than their struggles.”

State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) filed Senate Bill 1720 on Jan. 6. Several departments received pay increases, including the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Aging and the Department of Agriculture.

With passage of the bill; the governor, lt. governor, comptroller and treasurer will all see pay increases.

"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," an NPR Illinois report said this week.

State officeholders will see their increases on Jan. 9, while legislators will see their increases on Jan. 4; The State Journal-Register said.

The bill also included the transfer of several hundred thousand dollars to a fund—referred to this as a "closing fund" by Gov. JB Pritzker—meant to attract businesses to Illinois by providing incentives and grants.

"House Majority Leader Greg Harris said last week that the fund would need to be further defined in law before any of the money could be spent," a WQAD report said this week.

In the June 28 primary election, Bryant ran unopposed in her efforts to continue serving the residents of District 58 and has since championed conservative legislation. She is an outspoken critic of increasing government funding and an advocate for responsible spending.