Illinois state Rep. Deanne Maazzochi (R-Elmhurst)
Illinois state Rep. Deanne Maazzochi (R-Elmhurst)
Illinois state Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst) cares less about taking the credit than she does about seeing through her mission to end so-called “exit bonuses” in Springfield.
“I think it’s interesting that Democrats are only now acknowledging the problem with this now that’s it’s out in the public,” Mazzochi told the DuPage Policy Journal. “If they follow their usual M.O., they will now take my bill and rename it so that some Democrat can take full credit for it. They did the same thing behind a pension reform bill that was recently proposed. None of it really matters to me as long as we have good laws. For the good of the state, I think they should take a closer look at a lot of bills that Republicans have proposed.”
The bill that Mazzochi recently filed is House Bill 518, which would close a loophole that allows departing lawmakers to be paid for a full month’s work even if they hold office for just part of the monthlong pay period. State Comptroller Susana Mendoza (D-Chicago) recently announced that she too wants to end the Illinois General Assembly Compensation Act.
Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza
Over the last several weeks, the state paid nearly $40,000 to two veteran Democratic lawmakers who were forced to abruptly step down from office after being ensnared in corruption scandals.
“I think [Mendoza] was waiting for a Senate Democrat to propose it before taking action,” Mazzochi said. “In any event, I’m thrilled that she’s on board. We’ll see if it gets released from the Rules Committee now and with her support I hope it will.
Mendoza’s proposal is sponsored by Democratic state Sen. Cristina Castro of Elgin.
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