Springfield, IL-(Effingham Radio)- Included in the new recently passed state budget in Illinois are some healthy pay raises for lawmakers. The Democratic majority included the raises after giving themselves a boost in pay just last year. The base salary for the General Assembly is now close to $90-thousand dollars a year.

State Representative Martin McLaughlin, who voted against the raises, says it is embarrassing.

Meanwhile, State Representative Dan Caulkins reminds Illinoisans that the gimmick tax breaks by Democrats are expiring, which means the grocery tax is coming back and another gas tax hike is coming.

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Caulkins says Illinois can’t sustain this type of spending as he has seen the budget go from $38 billion to this year’s over $50 billion in just five years.