Illinois State Rep. Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) is donating the legislative pay raise he voted against to community food pantries within his district each month.
For the month of April, Schmidt chose to donate his raise to the O’Fallon Township Food Pantry.
“Today, I made my monthly food donation to the O’Fallon Township Food pantry," he said. "I donate the amount of my salary increase in the form of food to different local food pantries. I voted 'no' for that salary increase, so I put my money where my mouth is.”
Schmidt also provides resources for Illinois residents in need of assistance, including a list of local food pantries.
The Democratically-controlled General Assembly approved the pay raise last year as part of the 2024 state budget, raising Illinois legislators’ base pay to $89,675 per year. Their pay is now the 4th highest in the country.
Legislators in neighboring states earn significantly less. Legislators in Indiana, Kentucky and Iowa make less than $30,000 per year, with their counterparts in Missouri making just over $36,000. Wisconsin legislators come the closest to Illinois’ with a base pay of more than $55,000.
When the budget was passed, Schmidt said it earned bipartisan opposition but not bipartisan support.
“We are doing tremendous damage to the long-term fiscal health of our state just so the majority party can take care of their political allies and campaign contributors,” he said. “This budget is shameful.”
Schmidt added that the majority would rather give themselves pay raises than fix issues Illinoisans face.
“Washington Park still doesn’t have the promised funds they desperately need to rebuild their fire house, police station, and public works building,” he said.
“In Cahokia Heights, raw sewage is literally flooding the streets, yet instead of delivering money to repair their sewer infrastructure, the majority party would rather give themselves pay raises,” he added. “The citizens of Illinois deserve a fair, balanced budget that addresses their real needs.”
Other local Republican lawmakers also took aim at the pay raise, with Illinoisans footing the bill despite rising costs.
“Taxpayers are paying more for everything these days, yet the Democrat majority gave themselves a pay raise,” said State Rep. Charlie Meier (R-Okawville).
“As Deputy Budgeteer for the House Republican Caucus, my Republican colleagues and I offered to work on a bipartisan balanced budget, a budget that could have included our shared priorities. But instead, the Democrats gave themselves another pay raise and made promises they can’t fulfill, setting up for a potential tax hike in the future,” added State Rep. Amy Elik (R-Alton).