“Cheers to the citizens of Rock Island County who joined the battle by county board member Rich Morthland to stop pay hikes for newly elected countywide officeholders. Mr. Morthland, the lone Republican on the board, joined five Democrats in voting against pay hikes for the county clerk, treasurer and sheriff scheduled to go into effect over two years in 2012 and 2013. We share their distaste for such pay hikes, particularly as the county ponders layoffs and furloughs to bandage a budget bleeding red ink.

Critics charge that Mr. Morthland, the GOP candidate for state representative in the 71st District, is playing politics with the issue by calling for a repeal and seeking citizen signatures on petitions. They say if he wanted to stop the raises, he could have amended the measure when it came before the board in regular session. They have a point, to a point, but we doubt given the 19-6 vote that he would have been successful or that anger over the raises would have gained the momentum it has in recent days. Therefore, we welcome his leadership on the issue. Not so, however state Rep. Mike Boland and the 69 Illinois House members who chose to stick their noses in the county’s, or more accurately, local citizens’ business.”

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