Dupage Policy Journal

Former Rep. Jeanne Ives, a Republican of Wheaton, can barely count all the ways she stands in such stark opposition to the passage of Senate Bill 3531 during the legislature’s lame duck session.

“I oppose passing any nonemergency legislation in lame duck,” Ives told the DuPage Policy Journal of the bill that would give state department directors, assistant directors and secretaries a 15 percent raise. “I opposed it because the Democrats vilified [former Republican Gov. Bruce] Rauner's directors and chastised some of them over their pay … but most of all, I opposed the bill because it is outrageous that Democrats, who have had complete legislative control since 2003, think our problems will be solved by simply hiring the perfect directors.”

Ives predicted real change will come to Illinois only once lawmakers finally come face to face with all the issues that have left the state crippled.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker

“The problems in Illinois will only be solved when the state reps wake up and pass legislation that reforms pensions by ending them, requires spending reform and balanced budgets, gives regulatory reform to businesses and allows competition into our public school systems,” she said. “They could hire the top policy directors in the nation and it won't change anything unless they change how we do business.”

Democrats held onto the bill, which was passed Jan. 8, until Gov. J.B. Pritzker took over in the Governor’s Mansion, thereby greatly increasing the chances that SB 3531 would be signed into law.

The bill also stipulates that as of July 1, top state employees are entitled to annual cost-of-living increases.

After six years of serving in the 42nd District, Ives relinquished her seat to challenge Rauner in the Republican primary, insisting throughout her campaign that he had turned his back on the voters that elected him, based on some of the policies he enacted.