On Saturday I wrote about the discussions among Democrats and Rauner’s legislative leaders for a grand bargain to resolve the state budget stalemate.
The agreement includes six points taken from Rauner’s Turnaround Agenda.
· Imposing term limits on legislative leaders
· Increasing the state individual income tax to 4.9 percent
· Adding a statewide beverage tax on sugary drinks
· Changing Worker’s Compensation benefits
· Temporarily freezing property tax rates
· Pension reductions for active employees
A freeze on property tax rates would be devastating to local school districts.
Pension reductions?
Well, you know.
An email* from Illinois Education Association director of government relations Jim Reed to local leaders lays out what the state union coalition response appears to be.
The items with the most direct impact on education and education employees are the proposals for a two-year property tax freeze, proposed changes in workers’ compensation and pension reform.
The property tax freeze could have a negative impact on school funding in districts throughout the state.
On pensions, Cullerton and Rauner both favor a proposal that would place limits on whether future pay raises would be pensionable. We believe this proposal is unconstitutional.
We have been in conversation with our labor partners and have developed a strategy to communicate with senators to ensure that labor and education interests are protected.
We are not asking you to do anything at this time, but we wanted to make you aware that this proposal, or another like it, is likely to be a major issue throughout the spring session.
Please continue to follow the IEA website, Twitter and Facebook and be prepared to act quickly.
“We are not asking you to do anything at this time.”
Well, why the hell not?
Because, they say, “Currently, there is no indication the House is aligned with the proposal.”
Translation: Speaker Michael Madigan is not on board yet. And you don’t want to get ahead of Michael Madigan by mobilizing members to contact their representatives in Springfield to soon. Wait for a signal from Madigan.
I am told that IEA leaders refer to Michael Madigan as “our goalie.”
*From: Reed, Jim
Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2017 9:43 PM
Subject: 2017 Lame Duck session-UpdateGood evening.
The Illinois General Assembly will be back in Springfield on Monday for a two-day lame duck session. On Thursday, we were informed through some of our legislative contacts that there was a bill being developed which would address myriad issues of interest to IEA. The bill could be called for a vote early next week.
Here’s what we’re hearing:
Republican and Democratic state Senate leaders are quietly working on a deal to end the state’s painful budget impasse. Currently, there is no indication the House is aligned with the proposal, which is reported to include a bipartisan mix of tax increases and select items from the governor’s “Turnaround Agenda.”
Illinois Senate President John Cullerton and Illinois Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno have been negotiating a budget package which includes:
· Imposing term limits on legislative leaders
· Increasing the state individual income tax to 4.9 percent
· Adding a statewide beverage tax on sugary drinks
· Changing Worker’s Compensation benefits
· Temporarily freezing property tax rates
· Pension reductions for active employees
The items with the most direct impact on education and education employees are the proposals for a two-year property tax freeze, proposed changes in workers’ compensation and pension reform.
The property tax freeze could have a negative impact on school funding in districts throughout the state.
On pensions, Cullerton and Rauner both favor a proposal that would place limits on whether future pay raises would be pensionable. We believe this proposal is unconstitutional.
We have been in conversation with our labor partners and have developed a strategy to communicate with senators to ensure that labor and education interests are protected.
We are not asking you to do anything at this time, but we wanted to make you aware that this proposal, or another like it, is likely to be a major issue throughout the spring session.
Please continue to follow the IEA website, Twitter and Facebook and be prepared to act quickly.
Sent from my iPad
Fred Klonsky 
As my friend the old hockey player would say “that’s a heck of a “5” hole to shoot at”.
In case you never played Fred the “5” hole is between the legs and can be a real weak spot, so to speak.
Well, another reason that I did not renew my membership.
And further proof that not only do the IEA leaders not care about retirees, but they do not really care about their actives either. That having been said, all that’s left to say is, “Locals–be strong & fight on,” because you’re not gonna get anything from the state EA.
And-beware–I think they are asking you to put all your trust in the We are One coalition (as in, “we have been in conversation w/our labor partners”).
Don’t be fooled again!