Rauner Praises House Vote To Block Lawmaker Pay Raise

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner is praising a vote by the Illinois House of Representatives to block a contentious pay raise for lawmakers.

The bill passed Tuesday would block the 2 percent cost-of-living increase that lawmakers are automatically due.

Rauner in a statement urged the Senate to pass the bill, too. He also said he's ready to work with the Legislature on what he called "true structural reforms and a balanced budget."

The pay-raise issue has become a flashpoint in the budget stalemate between the Democrat-controlled Legislature and Rauner.

The Senate isn't in session until next week. A spokeswoman for Democratic Sen. President John Cullerton says it's not clear when or if the Senate will vote.

(© 2015 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)