Illinois GOP House leader Tom Cross is leading the attack on teacher pensions.
The Springfield State Journal Register is reporting some numbers that will be in the Illinois House pension bill. A bill that will in some way or the other loot teachers’ promised pensions is expected to be formally introduced on Wednesday.
One veteran teacher in our district told me today that many younger teachers think this isn’t about them. Apparently these folks have ignored everything we have said and think this is directed only at retired teachers.
Wrong.
So very wrong.
SJR says that the there will be a proposal for a three-tier system to replace the existing Teacher Retirement System for presently working teachers.
To stay in the existing system, teacher contributions would increase to 13.77 percent of their gross.
A second tier would look like the retirement plan that has been imposed on teachers hired after January 1st. That would require teachers to work longer and receive reduced benefits.
A third tier would have teachers pay into a private annuity without a defined benefit.
While the tier one cost is less than some have speculated, it is still a major increase. And it seems to have been lowered to pull some General Assembly members into the support column.
Plus, this is a proposal aimed squarely at punishing teachers.
Police officers, firefighters and local government workers who are in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund would not be affected.
In an incredibly cynical move, judge’s pensions would also be excluded.
Says SJR:
Judges are excluded because lawmakers hope that will provide a measure of protection against the possibility that the courts will strike down the pension changes as unconstitutional.
The Illinois Constitution says public employee pensions “shall be an enforceable contractual relationship, the benefits of which shall not be diminished or impaired.” Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, has said changing pension benefits for current employees is unconstitutional but plans to allow a vote in his chamber if the bill passes in the House.
The shift to a lower tier one cost seems to reflect the outrage and protest of teachers from around the state. The labor sponsored TV ads have been well received. They make me glad the IEA RA voted to spend more money on media.
A teacher in my building who wrote State Senator Ed Maloney of the western and south-western suburbs got this response:
Thank you for your email regarding future pensions of current educators. As you may know, I am a former educator and school administrator and presently serve as the Chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee, so I fully understand the importance of this benefit to current and retired teachers.
Eric Madiar, Chief Legal Counsel to Illinois Senate President John Cullerton and our Democratic Caucus, did a lengthy analysis of the Illinois Constitution’s pension clause of 1970. It is his opinion that going back on public pension promises is not an option for Illinois as some legal and civic commentators have suggested.
Our caucus website (illinoissenatedemocrats.com) features Mr. Madiar’s analysis along with a number of documents that explain the basis for his opinion. I encourage you to look over this report to see the current legal opinion of our caucus that we cannot cut pensions for current teachers.You may have heard of potential attempts to address pension reform via Senate Bill 512. Whatever form that bill or any other may take, I can assure you, I will not vote in favor of any bill that reduces pension payments.
Write on!
Fred Klonsky 
Way to go, Ed! If you stick to your promise, you’ll have my vote and the support of the many labor organization that call the 18th home!
Sounds like it could be political speak. They won’t be voting to lower pension payments, but they will vote to significantly increase employee contributions. I hope I am wrong.
He wrote a nice response and on then did the opposite as on March 30th he voted in favor of SB512. Please go to the legislature’s website enter SB512. Click on the third reading link and you will see how your elected officials voted. SB512 was a shell bill that said nothing. It is now in the pension committee of the house. An amendment adding the third tier is likely to be added on Wednesday or Thursday which will adversely impact public pensions. And, if it passes the house, there will be no further discussion in the senate. It will be a concurrence vote and go to the governor.
So he will have his cake and eat it too, unless his constituents remind him at election time what good his word is. It is shameful that the legislature does this, but it does.
Better double check your facts. Though this law may be aimed at teachers, the “scatter gun” will hit police and fire fighters. For years state and local municipalities have borrowed from peter to pay paul. No they want to blame peter(teachers, police and fire) for their failure to make timely payments or any payments at all. Even though I work in a village that has always kept their end of the bargain I’m still going to be lumped in by this law. I bet those that vote for it are exempt from the “new” pension system it proposes.
SB512 is aimed at teachers. Those in IMRF will, no doubt, come later.
Madigan is the Cheif House Sponsor for SB512. Since the bill is being held up in the house because they want to get at least some Republicans on board, it sounds like most the Democrats will support it whatever it is.
At least some of the Republicans have said they are against any changes for current employees, some have no problem with it though.
In 2006 Jakobsson(D) was all about how she supported pension changes for new employees, but for current employees it would be unconstitutional. Wonder if she feels that way now or if she will support the bill.
“When they came for the Jews I was silent,
When they came for the Catholics I was Silent,
When they came for the Gypsies I was silent,
When they came for me there was no one there to speak up for me”
SB 512 is only the begining, if you think otherwise Police & Fire you are fooling yourself.