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Contact: John E. Davis July 6, 2010
Media Spokesman
Scott Lee Cohen-Independent Candidate for Governor of Illinois
(312) 622-1246

COHEN APPALLED BY QUINN’S RAISES FOR HIS STAFF

Chicago – Scott Lee Cohen, Independent Candidate for Governor of
Illinois today blasted Governor Quinn for handing out huge pay raises
to his staff. Quinn’s generosity, at the expense of taxpayers, comes
just days after the Governor imposed painful spending cuts to programs
that benefit the State’s most needy.

“How can he justify doing such a thing at a time like this?” questioned Cohen.
“It is appalling that Governor Quinn can hand out raises as high as 20
percent to his own staff, when mental health professionals and
teachers are losing their jobs because this governor and other career
politicians have mismanaged the fiscal affairs of this State for too
long.”

Published reports indicate that since Quinn became governor he has
shoveled out 43 staff pay raises averaging more than 11 percent.
Topping the list is Quinn’s Budget Director David Vaught who got a 20
percent raise when he was promoted in October. That bumped his salary
up to $144,000.

“At the same time,” says Cohen, “Quinn is slashing $241 million
dollars from education.
He is cutting more than $17 million dollars from programs that help
the elderly. This same generous Governor Quinn is slashing $312
million dollars from the Department of Human Services.”

Cohen concludes that, “Governor Quinn seems oblivious to the fact that
the average Illinois worker and taxpayer is struggling to make ends
meet. I’m sure that in November, those same taxpayers will vote their
distaste for what Quinn has done.”