Health & Fitness
Kotowski wins support to cut legislators’ pay and eliminate tuition waiver program
Two measures sponsored by Senator Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge) passed the House yesterday that cut legislators pay and end the controversial scholarship program.
“This is another important step to changing business as usual in Springfield. We must restore faith in government by showing them that we’re willing to do the same,” – State Senator Dan Kotowski
SPRINGFIELD, IL – State Senator Dan Kotowski’s (D-Park Ridge) efforts to cut legislators’ pay and put an end to the embattled legislative scholarship program are one step closer to becoming law after both pieces of legislation passed the Illinois House this evening. The bills will now be sent to the governor for his consideration. Both are effective upon the Governor’s approval.
Earlier this year, Senator Kotowski led the effort in the Senate by advancing House Bill 3188 that cuts legislators’ pay by 5% and freezes other state officials’ pay, including the governor, state’s attorneys and members of numerous state boards and commissions. The savings from this legislation totals about $900,000.
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“This is another important step to changing business as usual in Springfield,” Senator Kotowski said. “Families and businesses are doing more with less. We must restore the public’s faith in government by showing them that we’re willing to do the same.”
Another measure, co-sponsored by Senator Kotowski, to end the legislative scholarship program passed the Illinois House as well. House Bill 3810, which also sets up a task force to review and evaluate other tuition waiver programs, will be sent to the governor for his approval.
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Several media stories have highlighted abuses of the tuition waiver program. Prior to leaving the program two years ago, Kotowski had an independent committee select the recipients of the tuition waivers based on their qualifications and need.
“We must continue to make meaningful reforms by keeping programs that work and getting rid of what doesn’t,” Senator Kotowski said. “This program doesn’t and that’s why I took steps to end it two years ago. It’s a welcome sight to see that some legislators will no longer be able to abuse this program.”
