A Cook County judge has ruled that Illinois lawmakers violated the state constitution when they voted to freeze their pay every year from 2009 through 2016.
The Chicago Tribune reports the ruling is the result of a lawsuit filed by two former Democratic state senators, Michael Noland of Elgin and James Clayborne of Belleville, against state Comptroller Susana Mendoza, who controls the state’s checkbook. Judge Franklin Valderrama wrote that the Illinois Constitution is “unambiguous” about prohibiting lawmakers from making changes to the pay they receive in their current terms.
The judge did not order Mendoza to issue checks to anyone, and he scheduled another hearing in the case for Aug. 7.
