About

Give Ten Back is a citizen movement calling on Illinois’ officials to show that they are willing to sacrifice too. We aim to introduce legislation calling for a 10% salary cut for all elected officials, including all legislators and statewide constitutional officers. The tax dollars freed by the 10% pay cut will be used to pay the state deficit until there is a budget surplus.

All statewide officials and candidates are encouraged to sign our petitions.

Give Ten Back Initiative

• The proposed legislation calls for a 10% salary cut for all elected state officials, including members of the General Assembly and constitutional officers. Cuts for members of the General Assembly would officially take effect starting with the 98th General Assembly in 2013, and for constitutional officers in 2015. The Illinois Constitution forbids changing of salaries for elected officials during the term in which the changes are approved.
• This is the reason why we called this initiative, “Give Ten Back.” Since the Illinois Constitution prohibits changes to the pay of elected officials during their term of office, the 10% pay decrease “give back” would be opt-in during the first term impacted by the legislation. The legislation would establish a mechanism for officials to participate in the program and would create a state-wide reporting system database so that voters and the media could watch to see if officials were living up to their promises. This would place lawmakers under double scrutiny as to whether or not they voted for the measure and also as to whether or not they were complying.
• The proposed legislation would also grant county boards the same authority to reduce their salaries by 10% and also those of elected county officials. As with the cuts for elected state officials, these cuts could not take effect until the following term. However, the legislation would grant county boards the authority to create a mechanism for county officials to participate in a voluntary 10% reduction and “Give Ten Back” to the counties, and allow voters and the media to track their actions.
• Rich Morthland will introduce both bills within the first week of the 97th General Assembly.