Institute on Fox Chicago: Firefighter Funeral for Edward Stringer Puts Pensions in Spotlight
At Tuesdays funeral for fallen Chicago Firefighter Edward Stringer, mourners heard from a number of people who praised his work on behalf of the city, but it was some of the words from the fire department’s chaplain that had people talking afterward. Father Thomas Mulcrone made specific mention of the debate over the rising cost...
At Tuesdays funeral for fallen Chicago Firefighter Edward Stringer, mourners heard from a number of people who praised his work on behalf of the city, but it was some of the words from the fire department’s chaplain that had people talking afterward.
Father Thomas Mulcrone made specific mention of the debate over the rising cost of pensions for police officers and firefighters in Illinois.
“In the last few months there have been some, some lawmakers, editorial board writers, pundits who have remarked that perhaps firefighters and paramedics and police officers make too much money and are overly compensated. I would challenge those people this morning to look at Ed’s casket and to look on Corey’s casket on Thursday and I would ask them, how much is too much? What price do you put on this sort of devotion? Shame on those who place the burden of a fiscal crisis or poor policy on the backs of these brave men and women.” Mulcrone said.
State lawmakers have approved a plan that increases the retirement age for new police officers and firefighters from 50 to 55 years of age and limits cost-of-living increases for those new workers.
Governor Quinn has yet to sign it.
John Tillman of the Illinois Policy Institute joined us for some reaction to the chaplain’s comments. The watchdog group and Tillman said that the pension system is broken and changes have to be made, and questioned bringing politics into the funeral of a firefighter.
Firefighter Funeral for Edward Stringer Puts pensions in Spotlight: MyFoxCHICAGO.com