As Illinois elected leaders continue to delay action on pension reform, a broad and bipartisan coalition has succeeded in pushing for reforms to public employee benefits in New Mexico.
Pritzker’s accounting gimmicks can’t fix pension crisis, but real reform can
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker previously floated a pension plan that included pawning-off state assets, taking on more high-interest debt and reducing pension funding before walking back the plan amid criticism. Here’s a real solution.
Bill aims to pay Illinois lawmakers only for days they actually work
Lawmakers can currently work one day to qualify for a whole month’s pay. A bill to change that has been stuck in committee since the spring.
Report: Absent reform, retirement benefits will eat over half of Illinois’ taxes
More than 25% of state revenue already goes to pensions and retiree health care, but Illinois would need to double that to fully fund promised benefits at current levels.
Arizona voters show Illinois the path forward on pensions
For the second time, Arizona voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing changes to unearned future pension benefits.
58 former Illinois state lawmakers collecting six-figure pensions
Former lawmakers receive generous benefits from the state’s worst-run retirement fund.
Illinois House passes bill stopping pay raises for lawmakers
House Bill 5760 would stop lawmakers’ scheduled cost-of-living adjustment. Illinois lawmakers are the fifth-highest paid state lawmakers in the nation.
Chicago Park District pension reform ruled unconstitutional
The ruling will likely mean higher taxes for Chicagoans.
Is pension reform possible in Illinois?
The plaintiffs in the SB 1 case are asking the court to do something extraordinary: to hold, in effect, that pension benefits should receive stronger protection than any other type of constitutional right.
Five reasons why Madigan’s pension fix is a step backward
There’s immense pressure on Illinois legislators to pass a pension bill. With the state pension system nearing insolvency and credit agencies warning of further downgrades, the perceived wisdom is that any pension fix, no matter how small, is a “step forward” that must be passed. But when it comes to pension reform in Illinois, that...