SPRINGFIELD-- State Senator Chris Lauzen (R- Aurora) expressed disappointment that one of the first actions taken by Senate Democrats after their landslide victory on Nov. 7 was to raise their own pay.

"I voted to reject the pay raise because the state's budget is drowning in red ink," Lauzen said. "It is especially arrogant to increase legislators' pay when no action has yet been taken by the Ruling Majority to address the impending huge increase in utility rates."

The state's Compensation Review Board recommended a Cost of Living Increase (COLA), noting that the General Assembly has not approved a COLA since 2002. Members of the General Assembly have not received COLA's or Pay Increases for four years.

The House of Representatives rejected the board's report in April, but in order to completely defeat the recommendation, the Senate was required to decline the pay increase as well.

The final vote on whether to approve House Joint Resolution 121, which would have stopped the cost-of-living increases, fell five votes short of passage.

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