Judge says taxpayers owe 2 Illinois senators who voted to reject raises Judge says taxpayers owe 2 Illinois senators who voted to reject raises Judge rules in favor of two former state senators seeking the back pay they rejected and then crowed about rejecting. Ruling applies only to the pair. Two former state lawmakers again have a judge saying they are entitled to the pay raises they very publicly declined while they were in the Illinois Senate. Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza lost this round but vowed to appeal. She also tried some public shaming to stop former state Sens. Michael Noland, D-Elgin, and James Clayborne Jr., D-Belleville, from trying to collect the money they voted to reject.