Readers shared with me some responses they received this week from legislators regarding our pensions. So, I’m sharing them with you.
Senator Michael Frerichs from the downstate 52nd district wrote this to a constituent:
Members of the General Assembly have been expecting Governor Pat Quinn to call us back for a special session to address pension reform. I have been waiting for that call to communicate the current proposal from the Governor.
It now seems like it will be a while before we are called back. It is possible that is might not be until Veto Session in November. With that in mind, I wanted to write to you to recap what transpired during the last weeks of session.
There had been much discussion in the media about pension reform and different proposals from different legislators and groups. Thank you for contacting me about your opposition to them. I’m happy to tell you that none of these pension proposals passed the General Assembly this session.
Senate Bill 1673, left the Senate as a different bill; in the House the bill underwent changes as major amendments were added in the House. Ultimately in the House, the measure was not called for a vote by either of the bill sponsors: Speaker Madigan and Leader Cross.
Three separate proposals were introduced in the Senate; one proposal, House Bill 1447, which would have forced current and retired state employees to choose between diminished benefits and losing access to retiree health insurance and pensionable raises, passed the Senate against my opposition. The bill was not called for a vote in the house.
As I have continued to promise, I will do everything in my power to uphold the benefits that you as a state employee have worked so hard for while also working to fully fund our commitments.
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Brad Wohlgemuth reports:
I had a phone call from Senator Katowski regarding the amendment 49. His claim is this would not enable legislators to modify current benefits for current retirees. I told him I thought he was mistaken. He said he would check it out. I was going to send him one of Glen’s pieces on 49.
Constitutional Amendment 49 will appear on the November ballot thanks to Illinois Democratic Party Chairman and House Speaker Michael Madigan. In the House it was passed 113 to 0.
If the voters agree, the Amendment would require a super majority in both houses of the General Assembly to increase state employee pension benefits.
This could impact yearly cost of living increases (COLA) benefits that retirees now receive.
Why would Senator Kotowski believe that current retirees are excluded? Does it say that in the Constitutional Amendment?
Good for Brad for sending the Senator Glen’s posts.
If you don’t read Glen Brown’s blog, you don’t know about the pension problem in Illinois.
Fred Klonsky 