There was good news and bad, very bad, news yesterday coming out of Springfield.
I got the story wrong and I’m not altogether clear yet.
It started earlier in the day when a Sangamon County judge ruled on a case not involving TRS that the state could legally change the benefits of a retiree health plan.
I knew that this was a worrisome decision and might give Senate President Cullerton some extra votes on his Senate Bill 1, which included a forced choice between a COLA and health care.
Later in the afternoon I got an email that the Illinois Senate had defeated SB35, 30 to 23.
SB35 is the draconian Biss/Cross/Nekritz bill.
So, that was the day’s good news.
The email also said that SB1 had lost by 1 vote. But that it was likely to be called again for a vote and that we should make phone calls.
Which I was about to do.
I went to the Senate web site to see what the vote had been. And instead of seeing that the SB1 was defeated by one vote, I read that it had passed by one vote.
What the hell?
I made some phone calls to double-check. And posted about SB1.
Then I got another email from a retired brother in the north suburbs forwarding an email from IEA President Klickna saying that I got it wrong. It was a different SB1.
I went back to the IEA website. Sure enough, Cullerton has walked back most of what was in SB1.
It now only applies to current active teachers that are Tier 1. It makes major cuts to their COLA options and includes the forced choice on health care. It does not impact current retirees.
Apparently Cullerton could not get the votes for what is called comprehensive pension reform. Screwing current teachers hired before January 1, 2011 was the best he could do. And he could only do that by one vote.
Those hired after January 1, 2011 are Tier 2 teachers. They have already be screwed.
It seems that even the IEA got confused over what transpired yesterday.
The earlier posting on the new SB1 was confused on the forced choice issue and they needed to come back and explain that under this plan access to an undefined health plan is only for those that “choose” to reduce their COLA.
But the confusion was understandable given the speed in which this bill came to the floor, was defeated, and then came back 15 minutes later and was passed.
What is less understandable is the reaction of some organizations of retired teachers who acted like SB1 getting passed was a victory since retirees weren’t included.
This is parochial thinking at its worst.
The state’s Democratic legislative political leadership, both Madigan and Cullerton, have given up on the idea of passing a single comprehensive pension bill.
Instead they have chosen a piecemeal approach – one pension, one benefit – at a time.
Retirees who think they are safe are dreaming. The legislature is not done with us yet. Not by a mile.
The only saving grace in all this is that it was a bad day for Biss and Nekritz too.
Everyone must keep the pressure on. Nobody is safe.
Fred Klonsky 
The Democrats who are screwing the pensioners instead of closing painless tax loopholes that benefit big, out of state businesses, will find themselves out the door at the next election. The grassroots will not be working for them.
Yes, Elaine, & it is time to start working on third party candidates from our own, just as the Tea Party has done. There are no longer Democrats and Republicans–they have become one & the same. Start small and act locally–it is up to US to change this stalemate.
It sounds like their strategy now is “to divide and conquer” Not only are the politicians trying to “divide and conquer” the state employees, but they are also trying to divide the public and private sector workers , as well as members of the various unions. As we well know, these elected officials are conniving , slippery, and will do anything to make sure that their own self-interests are protected. I am a SURs member, but believe very strongly that all members of the various pension groups need to stick together
Maybe the Teachers Union should re-consider who they support in the next and upcoming elections. The Democrats are not the Teachers friend. They only want heir money to fund their campaigns,
I am still confused. I am retired. One of the statements from the bill says that pensions can no longer support health insurance. Does this mean retirees will lose their TRIP insurance?