Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner is paying top staff members significantly more than those who worked for his predecessor, according to Associated Press findings.
The AP review found annual salaries of 10 top staffers in the Republican's administration outpace those of comparable aides to ex-Gov. Pat Quinn by roughly $380,000 - or 36 percent.
Rauner has said the state will pay what it needs to bring in "talented" staff. But he also has criticized spending and worker salaries in a state that is billions of dollars in debt.
Spokesman Lance Trover says the governor's overall payroll is "currently less" than Quinn's. But he did not provide specifics.
