AFSCME vs. Illinois Policy Institute: government pension transparency


In a recent Facebook post, a local chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, called a government pension transparency initiative by the Illinois Policy Institute “offensive.” From AFSCME Local 427’s Facebook page: Bills Amended to Address AFSCME Concerns
Assault on State Retiree Privacy (HB 1040 – Rep. Tryon/Sen. Althoff) This bill establishes...

In a recent Facebook post, a local chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, called a government pension transparency initiative by the Illinois Policy Institute “offensive.”

From AFSCME Local 427’s Facebook page:

Bills Amended to Address AFSCME Concerns
Assault on State Retiree Privacy (HB 1040 – Rep. Tryon/Sen. Althoff)

This bill establishes the Chief Information Officer Act which does not directly impact AFSCME members. However, in earlier drafts the Illinois Policy Institute sought to include language that would require the State to create a searchable database to allow anyone to learn the amount of an annuitant’s annual pension as well as the amount an annuitant has been paid over the course of their entire retirement. AFSCME was successful in removing the offensive language. STATUS: Order of Concurrence in the House.

Public employee pensions are one of the fastest growing cost areas of the state budget. To provide greater transparency, the Institute recommended a simple, searchable online database of the annual pensions for the state’s retirees and the contribution employees paid over their careers.

While AFSCME seems to think it is offensive to want the public to be able to understand the retirement benefits they fund for state workers, the Institute disagrees.

Taxpayers have a right to know how much government workers make because taxpayers are the ones footing the bill. Government isn’t a private organization, and therefore doesn’t have the same privacy rights.

Transparency on the pension issue is especially important considering the state’s failure to enact pension reform is one of the reasons why Illinois’ bond rating has been downgraded 13 times since Gov. Pat Quinn took office. New accounting rules have increased Illinois’ pension debt to $209 billion.

How can we even begin to understand the enormity of the pension problem and its causes if groups like AFSCME are actively working to keep the public in the dark?

Head to the Illinois Policy Institute’s Facebook page and weigh in on the following question:


Whose position do you support?

AFSCME: Government pension transparency is offensive. Taxpayers have no right to know government workers’ retirement income information.


Illinois Policy Institute: Government pension transparency is essential. Government pensions are paid for by workers and taxpayers and they have a right to know where their money is going.