Chicago Teachers Union school closures, strikes hold back K-12 chess champs

By Ann Miller

07/05/2022

Students on Joe Ocol’s chess teams already face life challenges, but the Chicago Teachers Union adds to them by repeatedly threatening their historic successes. Voters face a choice Nov. 8 to either strengthen union militancy or put students first.

TAGS: Amendment 1, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Illinois Constitution

Poll: bipartisan supermajorities of Illinois voters support constitutional pension reform

By Patrick Andriesen

06/09/2022

Polling showed 61% of Illinois voters would approve an amendment to the state constitution changing future pension benefits while guaranteeing those already earned by public employees. Taxes remain Illinoisans’ top concern.

TAGS: constitutional amendment, Illinois Constitution, pension reform, pensions

Illinois voters got just 1 proposed constitutional amendment on ballot in 52 years

By Joe Tabor

05/19/2022

During the past decade, state lawmakers have asked to change the Illinois Constitution six times while voters have failed to get any changes on the ballot. In 52 years, Illinoisans have only gotten one amendment question before voters. That needs to change.

TAGS: constitutional amendment, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois Constitution

Illinois parents, teachers sue to get unconstitutional union boost off ballot

By Ann Miller

04/21/2022

Amendment 1, billed as a “Workers' Rights Amendment,” actually covers so much more that it violates the U.S. Constitution. Parents and teachers worrying about it emboldening already militant teachers unions are suing to get it off the ballot.

TAGS: Amendment 1, government unions, Illinois Constitution, lawsuit

Amendment 1 would lock sky-high property taxes into Illinois Constitution

01/18/2022

A change to the Illinois Constitution on the 2022 ballot would effectively transfer power over tax dollars from the people and their elected representatives to special interests. It would thwart any efforts to curb the nation’s second-highest property taxes.

TAGS: Amendment 1, Illinois Constitution, property tax

To fix Illinois’ pension crisis, first change its constitution

By Dylan Sharkey

01/18/2022

Illinois allocates more of its budget to pensions than any other state, but pension spending has only skyrocketed. A constitutional amendment is the only way to reform the state’s unsustainable and underfunded pension systems.

TAGS: Illinois Constitution, pensions

Amendment 1 would guarantee Illinois’ sky-high debt, taxes would rise faster

By Justin Carlson

01/13/2022

Unfair advantages for public sector unions are already driving Illinois’ massive debt and high taxes. Enshrining their power in the Illinois Constitution would make it worse and give voters less say about government costs.

TAGS: Amendment 1, debt, government unions, Illinois Constitution, taxes

Voters being asked to change Illinois Constitution to benefit one group

By Dylan Sharkey

11/24/2021

Special interest groups shouldn’t be singled out for protection in the Illinois Constitution, but state lawmakers are asking voters to change that. If passed, Amendment 1 would protect government unions at the expense of everyone else.

TAGS: Amendment 1, government unions, Illinois Constitution

Government unions dictate when Illinois Constitution needs changes

By Dylan Sharkey

11/24/2021

In 2022, Illinois voters will face the biggest union power grab yet.

TAGS: Amendment 1, government unions, Illinois Constitution

Amendment 1 will cement teacher strikes in Illinois Constitution

By Mailee Smith

10/21/2021

Voters will decide in November 2022 whether teachers’ unions will have a permanent right to walk out on students.

TAGS: Amendment 1, Illinois Constitution, strike, teachers union

Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

Illinois is home to one of the worst pension crises in the country.1 At 39% funded, according to the nonpartisan Pew Charitable Trusts, Illinois has the worst pension funding ratio of any state.2 By contrast, neighboring Wisconsin’s pension system is 103% funded.3 In fiscal year 2022, Illinois’ total general funds pension costs, including pension bond...

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Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

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The Rev. Phalese Binion

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students