Illinois Governor Pat Quinn is defending his move to abolish automatic pay hikes for lawmakers.

The General Assembly voted in the spring to skip their pay hike this year. But their cost of living salary increases would be automatic after that.

Quinn says his amendatory veto is designed to send a message to lawmakers.

QUINN: I think legislators shouldn’t be able to get a pay raise now, or in the future, unless they vote for it and unless there’s a clear public demand for it.  And the public right now wants economy.  They don’t want pay raises for politicians.

Quinn would not say whether he has the legislative support needed to pass his version of the bill.

Lawmakers head back to Springfield next month for their fall veto session.