State Representative Elaine Nekritz.
I am pleased to have been asked by Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice to sit on a panel at this event. Join us.
AURORA – A public forum on the state pension reform dilemma is planned for Wednesday at East Aurora High School.
Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice and State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, an Aurora Democrat, will host town hall meeting to discuss current pension reform proposals. Chapa LaVia, chairman of the House Elementary & Secondary Education Committee, will be joined by state Rep. Elaine Nekritz of Northbrook, chairman of the House Pensions Committee.
“Rep. Chapa LaVia has worked with us to create this opportunity to share our concerns before lawmakers return to Springfield to cast votes on this important issue,” said Mary Shesgreen, cochairman of Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice.
“We are most concerned about the cost shift component and the deep impact that could have on low-income school districts here in Aurora, Elgin and Carpentersville. We hope to push new ideas, primarily taxing the wealthy, into the pension discussion.”
“Maintaining pension solvency is a key issue for every level of our state government,” Chapa LaVia said. “It is vital for the fiscal health of Illinois that we address this crisis while ensuring that all involved parties, including teachers, have a seat at the table to negotiate these proposals.”
The forum, titled Funding Strong Schools and Fair Pensions, is scheduled for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the auditorium at East High, 500 Tomcat Lane.
For information, contact Shesgreen at 847-742-6602 or John Laesch at 630-878-7454, or Chapa LaVia’s office at 630-264- 6855.
Fred Klonsky 
Fred,
I enjoy reading your website. As a retired State Police Sergeant I am greatly concerned over all the pension reform proposals. Keep up the good work.
I just saw the Judge’s ruling from Rhode Island.
State ordered into mediation over pension reform lawsuit
By IAN DONNIS (2012-12-19)
PROVIDENCE, RI (RIPR) – A Superior Court judge Tuesday ordered the two sides in Rhode Island’s pension case to try to settle their differences through mediation. A series of unions are challenging last year’s landmark overhaul of the pension system. Five public sector unions are suing the state, arguing that it went too far in cutting retirement benefits.
Judge Sarah Taft-Carter instructed lawyers for the state and public-sector unions to seek a possible settlement. Talks between the two sides will be facilitated by the mediators from the federal government. Teachers’ union head Robert Walsh praised the move by Taft-Carter.
“We’re very pleased that the judge has ordered both sides into mediation. We have always felt that this would be best resolved by sitting down across the table from each other and negotiating out our differences.”
Governor Lincoln Chafee recently expressed support for trying to settle the lawsuit brought by unions against the pension overhaul. State Treasurer Gina Raimondo has said the pension case should be decided in court. A conference on the status of the mediation is slated for February.
Both State Treasurer Gina Raimondo and Goveronr Lincoln Chafee say the state has a strong case in defending last year’s landmark overhaul of the pension system.
Raimondo helped spearhead the changes she says were made to save the state-administered retirement system for public employees.
Nekritz Forum—Perhaps the President will come to Illinois to urge a millionaire’s tax, or a graduated income tax for those with income over $250,000.
He was silent about the CTU strike, breaking his pledge to “walk the picket line with you.”
Now he can make amends.