10% for the People

Earlier this year, the Rock Island County Board attempted to give pay increases to certain elected county officials. At a time when Rock Island County is facing a $3 million budget deficit, giving raises was unconscionable. My campaign put together a grassroots initiative to oppose this act. Thankfully, the Rock Island County Board heard the voice of the people and voted to repeal the raises before they could take effect.

Today, I am announcing another initiative. After I am elected state representative, I promise to introduce legislation calling for a 10% salary cut for all elected state officials. At the same time, I will also introduce legislation which will grant county boards the same authority to reduce their own salaries and those of other elected county officials. Under current state law, county governments do not have this ability.

Responsible leadership requires setting a positive example. With a staggering $13 Billion budget deficit, the state must learn to do more with less in today’s economy. The tax dollars freed by the 10% pay cut will be used to pay the state deficit until there is a budget surplus.

We set an example here in Rock Island County. We need to take this example and make it state policy.

I will introduce both bills within one week of being sworn in. It’s time to draw a line across the state of Illinois to separate the problem from the solution.

As a way to demonstrate my serious commitment, I am willing to stand up and say ‘if elected, I will voluntarily reduce my own salary’. Regardless of the outcome of the legislation I introduce, I will personally take a 10% pay cut on day one.

If you would like to join our efforts, you can help by circulating petitions — one for citizens and one for candidates– to sign in support of the measure to reduce state officials’ salaries by 10%. You can access the citizen petition here, and the elected official petition here.

If you are a candidate or elected official and would like to co-sponsor this legislation, please e-mail me and we will send you petitions with your name instead of Rich’s.

Let’s make Illinois great again!

Rich Morthland
www.electmorthland.com