Fred,
It seems to me that organizations like the IRTA, IEA and CTU should be putting energy and money into the campaign of Mr.Guzzardi. Supporting candidates like this would be a message to Mr. Madigan and others that educators have a voice, a substantial one at that. It appears that our political investments do not always line up with our political interests.
I’m unsure how these decisions are even made?!
What a message it would send to the powers that be if Toni Berrios is defeated. I for one am sending a check to the Guzzardi campaign and hope others do the same!!– Julie Jeter
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Fred Klonsky 
Excellent point! Educators are a very powerful political group. I believe that nothing has happened in the legislature about so-called “penison reform” because of participation in blogs like this one and the push back from individuals. It took Fred Klonsky et al to get the IEA to wake up. As you remember, they were ready to accept cuts to pensions. If the mainline organizations would back candidates who truly support education, real change could take place. Mlaybe the recent insurance changes will spur more pensioneers to participate in overall reform.
IRTA has a defined process for enforcing and contributing to political candidates. Any candidate or member can start the process by contacting the IRTA but the entire process may not be concluded until the campaigns are in full swing. The IRTA just passed a resolution allowing candidates without a voting record to be considered.
That should read “endorsing” not “enforcing.” An unconscious slip?
Rich Miller yesterday’s Capitol Fax says, “there is no obvious vehement opposition (to the pension “reform” proposals) either, which is apparently what cheered so many leaders on Friday.”
What does he think you and I and the IRTA have been doing? Maybe it is time to email and call our legislators and the Governor to let them know, once again, that we oppose ANY and ALL legislation that diminishes our Constitutionally and contractually protected pension benefits.
Offering current employees a 1percent reduction as consideration for a change in the COLA for current retirees is NOT consideration in the legal sense. One group can’t get something while another gives. The getting and giving must be done voluntarily by the same group!
Don’t allow PFF (Pension Fight Fatigue) to set in. The current COLA reduction proposals would reduce your buying power by 50% over 20 years. Make those calls! Send those emails! Be proactive and assertive! Let your elected officials know how such a reduction would impact you