“No money — No ability to pay,” stated Heidi Holan, Republican candidate for House District 46, recently on her Facebook page as she responded to ongoing controversy over Illinois legislators’ paychecks in Springfield.
A recent complaint from state State Rep. Robert Martwick (D-Chicago), who grumbled about paycheck delays in Springfield, drew much public criticism Instead of addressing constituent concerns, he simply reiterated his position, saying denying pay "puts an undue pressure on working-class and poor representatives."
“(D)ecisions that affect middle class and poor communities are made by wealthy people who most likely do not deal with the same daily struggles as the people who their decisions are affecting,” Martwick commented via his Facebook page Aug. 10. “That is nothing less than a corruption of our democracy.”
Holan then responded.
“Legislators caused this problem by spending beyond revenues received — which means they gave IOUs to the organizations providing services to the state,” Holan said. “An IOU does not put food on the table or pay a mortgage for the families of these organizations.”
Martwick’s response did little to earn him a reprieve among struggling Illinois citizens. Family connections tie him to property-tax law firms in the greater Chicago area. He and his father, Robert Martwick Sr., as well as Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan and Chicago Alderman Ed Burke run property-tax law firms in Cook County.
As one of 31 state representatives who voted against a property-tax freeze in April, Martwick fights the very policies that would benefit his constituents.
Yet, when Martwick and his colleagues weren’t paid sooner than the state’s vendors — who themselves must deal with untimely payments due to Illinois’ $7.5 billion budget backlog — he cried foul nevertheless.
“Legislators, you didn't do your job and balance the budget," Holan said. "Until that happens you shouldn't be receiving a paycheck, let alone cutting in line ahead of those you for which you showed such disdain.”
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