State Lawmakers Lay Golden Nest Eggs

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. Illinois lawmakers have one of the nation'splushest legislative retirement nests - providing in some cases up tofour times the benefits of other state employees.

In national surveys, Illinois lawmakers' benefits are in the topfive, while state employee benefits tied for last.

Twenty-year veteran lawmakers retiring with their base salary of$38,496 receive $2,726.80 a month. A 20-year state employee earningthe same retires with $1,145.26 a month. If the employee receives afederal pension, the state pension dwindles to $673.68 a month.

Illinois lawmakers say they …