Mayor's Row...by Ned Mitchell



Most of the time it takes me a while to get it. There are so many behind the scenes details to try and figure out when writing a weekly column. Quite often after I have written a column and it is published a few days later, I get it! One can easily see what is happening when it happens yet to figure out why that event happened, takes a lot of time and thought. Since I no longer mow the grass due to the weather I am often at a loss for detailed thought.

I think I have finally figured out the recent pay increase that legislators gave themselves. I found it strange that they would vote to raise the minimum wage so eagerly the first day in session. Legislators immediately took up the raise in minimum wage and passed it with little debate. Most legislators eagerly voted for raising the minimum wage. I was in agreement with that legislation. While the argument can be made that this is a federal issue and should be decided by Congress it was clear to me that while the Republicans controlled Congress this was not going to happen. Congress has had 8 years of Republican control or more to do something about the minimum wage but has steadfastly refused to do so. It is a classic case of finger pointing with Republicans in Washington saying it should be a state issue and Republicans at the state level saying it should be a federal issue. Baloney, it needed to be done and Democrats in Illinois are to be commended for taking the bull by the horns so to speak and assuming a leadership role in this legislation.

No sooner did Democrats take care of the minimum wage issue they tackled the difficult idea of pay raises for themselves. I mean, after all, they took care of the lowest paid people, so why not take a little for themselves? I gave careful thought to that and even admitted that I thought they deserved a pay raise since they had not had one in 10 years. Is that coincidental with the utility companies also going for a period of ten years without an increase in rates? Here we have legislators going 10 years with no pay raise and also AmerenCips with no rate increase. I did disagree with how legislators set up the pay raise issue and waited until after the election to pass it.

What started out a very confusing vote, a legislator had to vote yes if they were against a pay raise and vote no if they were for a pay raise, ended up passing with mainly Democrats supporting the legislation. Then things got more confusing. Democrats put forth a bill calling for a 10 percent pay raise but they did not appropriate any money to pay for the pay raises. Along comes Democrat State Comptroller Dan Hynes with the concept that unless legislators amend the appropriation bill he will not pay the additional money to legislators. Hynes has got to be about as popular as,well, that punch bowl thing and what is in it. Senate Democrats moaned and groaned about how they must have additional money. Most of those Democrats who moaned and groaned are not in the category of folks that most of us think need more money. The farther north ones goes, the more you will see this legislator job is a part time position. Our local legislators treat this as a full time job and they do work hard at it, both Democrats and Republicans. But when you get up north you will find that most legislators have other jobs and often treat this job as being a part time gig. Most folks don't feel sorry for politicians anyhow so that argument fell on deaf ears.

Now when the smoke has cleared we find that legislators were less than truthful with us. No kidding! Initially they said this would be a 10 percent pay raise. Now we find out that it is actually a 15.6 percent pay raise. Wait, it gets even better, it is retroactive meaning that legislators will get a rather large one time check for back pay. There are two things that can prevent this from happening. The House of Representatives has not acted on the appropriation bill providing the extra money and then the Governor does have veto power and he could stop it from becoming law. Folks lets not get greedy here. I think legislators are entitled to be paid fairly but I do not think they are entitled to over 15 per cent in a pay raise and I for sure do not think they should receive back pay.

There were mainly three issues the legislators were going to take up during the veto session. They were raising the minimum wage, increasing their own salaries, and doing something with the proposed utility rate increases.

Remember during the last election when politicians were running all over this state talking about minimum wage and how they were really going to bat for poor folks? Remember when they literally ran up and down the state county by county beating the utility providers over the head and promising to extend the rate increase by another 3 years? Of course we did not hear them bleating about raising their own pay, but there are only so many hours in a day so I am sure that was an oversight.

Legislators got the minimum wage increased and then upped their own pay but they just could not get up enough muster to handle the utility issue. In the mean time Illinois utility companies spent 15 million, yes that is million, dollars to advertise the fact that power rates are too low in this state. Utility companies have also put millions, yes I said millions, of dollars in politician's pockets, particularly in the State Senate and guess where utility rate freeze issues are bottled up? If you guessed the State Senate, you are so right.

I've just got one simple question for legislators. If you vote to give a raise in pay to those on the minimum wage how is it fair to let utility companies come along and take that increase and then more away from those who need it most? I mean if we are trying to protect those who need it most should we also not make sure utility bills are affordable? Many of us will grumble about our light bills going from $200 per month to $320 but we will be able to pay it. If a person who is working for minimum wage gets an extra .50 per hour in pay but their utility bill goes up $120 a month, how have they gained anything? Don't hold your breath waiting on the state to make this an issue. There is a tax being paid by the consumer to the state that is based on your bill. The higher the bill, the more tax they collect.

The last comment I'll make today though is this. If the State of Illinois is leading the nation in debts owed and if we cannot pay for basic services and our pension fund is billions of dollars in debt, how could legislators find the money to increase their own pay? It appears to me that we need to build some huge indoor arenas with lots of grass to mow so legislators can get behind that Sears push mower and do some thinking!

Congratulations to Sesser resident Randall Crocker and West Frankfort resident Danny Melvin who were chosen Monday evening by fellow county board members to serve as Chairman and Vice-chairman of the Franklin County board. I think we will see some changes for the better in how our county government functions.

If you want to see Oprah when she comes to Sesser you had better get that bumper sticker on your vehicle. As you know by now we are making an effort to get the famous talk show hostess Oprah to do a show at the historic Sesser Opera House. Our seating is limited to about 400 people and we have 500 bumper stickers. Admission to the event will be based on first come first serve but you must have proof that you put a bumper sticker on your vehicle before you can be considered. They are available at the City Hall, The Print Shop or the Opera House Café.

You are invited to a 40th birthday celebration for Mark Eubanks, son of Garry & Barb Eubanks of the White Oak community north of Sesser. The party will be from 2 until 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Sesser this Sunday, December 10th. No gifts please! Cake and punch will be served.

If you need us give us a call at 625-5322 or 625-3611 or write nedmitchell@verizon.net or www.sesser.org or P. O. Box 277, Sesser, IL 62884.