Kevin Schmidt | Courtesy photo
Kevin Schmidt | Courtesy photo
State Rep. Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt), who voted against legislative pay raises in the 2024 budget, has decided to donate his bonus to local community outreach efforts in his district.
This month he chose to support Moms On a Mission, an organization run by two sisters, Dawn Putnam and Misty Barth, who serve the less fortunate by providing food, clothing, hygiene products, and other essentials. Moms on a Mission is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity that assists the homeless, veterans, foster families, fire and flood victims, low-income families, and the elderly in various areas across Illinois and Missouri.
“I voted against the legislative pay raises proposed this year, but I was outvoted,” Schmidt said. “Since I did not support this pay raise, I want to use the additional funds to support the great work being done across my district. This month, I decided to fill the deep freezers of Moms on a Mission. They use this food to bless those in need in our communities, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to lend them my support in this way. Dawn and Misty are doing remarkable work and their passion for helping others is evident.”
The Illinois budget hiked legislator pay so high that it had to be decreased by a line item veto. Gov. J.B. Pritzker exercised a reduction veto, his second in five years, to rectify an "inadvertent" mistake made by lawmakers who voted for a 5.5% raise for themselves, exceeding the 5% maximum allowed by state law. The adjustment reduces legislative salaries to $89,250 starting July 1, instead of the initially proposed $89,675, Politico reported.
State Rep. Mike Marron (R-Fithian) also spoke out against state lawmakers granting themselves a second pay raise for the year, nudging annual legislator pay before benefits to nearly $90,000 per year.
“It sends the wrong message at the wrong time. People are struggling with inflation. They're paying higher amounts of money for gasoline, for energy, food, medicine. And here we are. We're just so out of touch,” Marron told the Illinois Radio Network, reported by Greg Bishop.
The 114 House District covers large parts of the Metro East and incudes the communities of East St. Louis, O’Fallon, Smithton and Freeburg.
Alerts Sign-up