From U.S. Senate candidate Don Tracy’s campaign
Don Tracy: First They Raised Your Taxes. Then They Raised Their Own Pay
SPRINGFIELD — According to a new report, when the Pritzker-Stratton administration approved a record $55.9 billion budget with more than $800 million in new taxes and tax increases, they also increased legislator pay to a record level.
Since 2019, Illinois lawmakers have increased their base salaries by 44.9%, nearly 34% faster than the average Illinois worker’s paycheck has grown during Juliana Stratton’s time in office.
“They raised your taxes, and then they raised their own pay,“said US Senate Candidate Don Tracy.
“While your family is paying more for groceries, gas, utilities and just about everything else, Juliana Stratton’s state government team made sure the paychecks of her political allies keep growing.
“For nearly eight years, Stratton has stood shoulder to shoulder with Gov. Pritzker and the politicians passing really big spending budgets, raising taxes and growing government.
“Now we learn they’ve also been rewarding themselves while Illinois families struggle just to keep up.
“Government exists to serve the people, not the other way around. Abraham Lincoln practiced law at the same firm where I practice today. He understood that simple truth. Somewhere along the way, too many of our elected officials forgot that.
“There is a clear choice in this election: Juliana Stratton wants to take the same political culture that raised taxes, rewarded insiders and made Illinois less affordable to Washington.
“I’ll fight to bring common sense back to government and make life more affordable for the people who make the state work. It’s not complicated.”
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Here is what happened to Jiliana Stratton’s Lt. Governor salary:
Here is the year-by-year salary breakdown:
- 2015–2018: $135,669
- 2019–2022: $139,030 to $139,200
- 2023–2024: $160,900
- 2025–2026: $181,400
