SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The Illinois House voted without opposition Wednesday to force lawmakers to take unpaid furlough days and to change the way lawmakers, judges and executive officials receive pay raises.

Despite sharp partisan shots earlier in the day, lawmakers of both parties acknowledged that the state’s projected budget shortfall of $11.6 billion means savings must come across the board. The bill passed 116-0.

Under the plan by state House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, all 177 state legislators would have to take four unpaid days, one in each of the first four months of the fiscal year that begins July 1.

Unpaid furlough days are certainly something many Illinoisans (and journalists!) know all too well.

Lawmakers also would not receive cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) next year, but those increases would resume in 2011.

“We all need to take a hit at a time when our state is obviously in serious financial peril,” said state Rep. Dave Winters, R-Rockford.

The proposal, Senate Bill 2090, also requires future pay raises for government officials to be introduced as legislation and voted on rather than taking effect automatically as they do now.

“I think this is a change that is long overdue,” said state Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville. “It puts accountability back into the system…This is a step forward in the right direction.”

The bill heads back to the state Senate, which must sign off on the changes made in the House, before moving to the governor’s desk.