IEA’s chief lobbyist tells members it’s “too early” to mobilize around defense of pensions.
IEA’s chief legislative lobbyist Jim Reed posted a video on the IEA website today. The purpose of the video was to inform members of the results of this past week’s meetings with the so-called stake-holders involved in pension legislation.
The meetings included legislators, the unions, and the corporate interests represented by Ty Fahner’s Civic Committee.
When asked directly in the video if this was too early for members to mobilize, Jim said he thought it was too early to mobilize. But then he called on members to educate legislators, educate other members and be ready for when the veto session begins in late October.
Odd take on things in my mind.
He also changed what the IEA had said were its key concerns. It was a slight change, but a worrisome one.
In a Capitol Report dated last July, the IEA leadership said,
Regarding the pension funding reform discussion, IEA is taking the following positions: 1) Any proposed changes must be legal under the Illinois Constitution, 2) Proposed revenue options must be designed to enable the state to meet its funding obligation to the pension systems, and 3) The only changes that should be considered are those that will not diminish the stability of the pension systems.
In the video, Jim Reed replaced number two with a position calling for “fairness to TRS participants.”
This is a troubling shift in tone from one which called for no change in benefits to participants.
Members will be watching closely.
Uh-oh….