SENATOR KOTOWSKI LEADS BY EXAMPLE ON FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

Cuts Legislative Office Budget by 22%, Votes to Cut Legislative Salaries, and Refuses Per Diem

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Illinois State Senator Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge) announced today that he cut 22% in spending from his legislative office budget, saving taxpayers nearly $20,000.  This is the latest example of Senator Kotowski practicing what he preaches on spending reform.

“Families across our state have had to do more with less. Springfield needs to do the same,” said Senator Kotowski. “Legislators need to do their part to change the culture in the Capitol by tightening their taxpayer funded belts and cutting spending from their own budgets.”

Kotowski was the Chief Sponsor in the Senate to Illinois historic spending reform, Public Act 96-1529, which requires the state to live within its means and fund programs based upon performance.

“The spending reform I championed and passed into law isn’t a silver bullet and it won’t fix Illinois’ fiscal problems overnight,” said Kotowski, “but it does fundamentally change the way business is done in Springfield. It stops the state from digging itself further into a financial hole and, more important, it takes away the shovel.”

In addition to passing historic spending reform and cutting his legislative office expenses by 22%, Senator Kotowski’s record of leading by example on fiscal responsibility includes the following:

• In 2008 the General Assembly received a pay increase and Senator Kotowski donated his raise to help a young woman from his district pay her college tuition.
• In 2009, Senator Kotowski co-sponsored and voted to get rid of the Compensation Review Board, which allowed legislators to receive pay increases without affirmatively voting to receive that increase.
• Senator Kotowski voted to cut legislative salaries, including his own, in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012.
• Senator Kotowski refused to accept per diem in 2008 and 2012 for the legislative special sessions.
• Senator Kotowski also voted to cut per diems (mileage, lodging, and meals) for legislators in 2010, 2011, and 2012.