The in box. Defending the pension provision.

Fred,

If the Constitutional Admendment passes it will certainly hurt everyone in many ways. I do believe. however, if they try to change the Cola provision of the penison plan, based upon the Admendment to the Constitution it will go to court and the final outcome will be a status quo for the Cola provision. I, also, believe that this Admendment will not have any affect on the Constitutional safeguards that we now enjoy.

All that being said, if the Admendment passes, there will not be any improvements in the pension plan in the future, nor will the current tier system be changed. At this point our biggest concern should be the the changes that the “lame duck legislature” will make to the existing plan.

-Rich46

Rich46,

I agree that if the Constitutional Amendment passes it will harm every state pensioner in Illinois for the reasons Glen and Dave discussed.

If it is passed, it will go to the courts. But the outcome is not guaranteed. Better not to find out.

I think it is a mistake to see the Madigan’s constitutional amendment and any legislative action that may come forward in the veto session or after January 1st as separate things, with some being bigger concerns than others.

We should seem them all as a continuing attack on the pension provision of the Illinois Constitution that prohibits any attempt to diminish or impair our promised benefits. The political and corporate leaders in this state are prepared to throw all including the kitchen sink at this provision.

Only our own continuous efforts, with the support of our friends, can prevent it.

– Fred