SPRINGFIELD - There will be no election year pay hikes for Illinois lawmakers. In a unanimous vote Tuesday, the Illinois Senate rejected the proposed 7.5 percent salary increases, which would have cost taxpayers about $1.2 million. | Do-nothing special session called a 'sham'

"This is just the wrong time," said state Sen. Dale Risinger, R-Peoria, pointing to rising consumer prices and the Legislature's failure to approve major initiatives this year.

"With the atmosphere as sour as it is in Springfield among the leaders and with the infighting amongst some legislators and the executive branch, I don't feel the General Assembly as a whole should be rewarded for the jobs they have done over the past couple of years," said state Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton.

The raises were set to kick in if both the House and Senate didn't formally vote to reject them. The House voted earlier this spring to block the raises, but Democratic leaders in the Senate had balked at the idea for months.

Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, had earlier said he needed the extra cash, but relented under pressure from some of his underlings who were concerned it would become a major issue in their re-election campaigns. Jones and state Sens. Donne Trotter and Kwame Raoul of Chicago voted "present" on the issue.

"I am pleased that the Senate president allowed the Senate to vote on the issue of pay raises for legislators, state officials and judges before the election, instead of just letting the pay raises take effect after the election," said state Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington.

Had the increase gone through, it would have boosted lawmakers salaries from $67,833 to $72,985. The governor's salary would rise to $192,700, up from $170,917. Hundreds of other officials, including judges, also would have seen bigger paychecks.

Afterward, Gov. Rod Blagojevich said he plans on changing the way pay raises are decided for lawmakers. Currently, a separate commission lays out how much lawmakers and other officials should receive and then the General Assembly must reject them in order for them not to take effect.

Lawmakers already received a 3.8 percent pay increase July 1. That is defined as a cost-of-living increase.

Illinois lawmakers are paid more than their counterparts in neighboring states. In Iowa, members of the House and Senate earn a base pay of $25,000. Missouri legislators get $31,350, while Indiana lawmakers receive $11,600.

State Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, voted to reject the raise, but said he was doing so reluctantly.

"I work very hard. I raise a family on what I earn," Jacobs said.

Republicans argued that recent cuts to the budget by Blagojevich made it hypocritical for lawmakers to argue they need more money.

"Personally, I think state government is in shambles," said Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville.

The issue of pay raises had become an issue in Forby's re-election bid.

His opponent, Republican Ken Burzynski of Benton, said it was good news that the Senate rejected the raises.

However, Burzynski said, "The bad news is that it took the Senate Democrats three months to do it."