Lawmakers Acted on Cost of Living Raise Bill

A bill which would force Illinois lawmakers to take unpaid furlough days and put off receiving cost of living raises passed the Illinois House Government Committee Wednesday and was sent to the House floor. Among the co sponsors of the bill, Peoria Representative Jehan Gordon and Canton Representative Mike Smith. The bill, sponsored by Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, is a way to help balance the states budget. The measure comes days after Republicans tried unsuccessfully to eliminate the raises from the governors budget. Eliminating the raises would save the state about a million dollars.