Dear Illinois Supreme Court: 8 things to know about Chicago’s pension-reform law

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

11/19/2015

Regardless of the outcome of the case, the burden Chicagoans face from the government-worker pension crisis won’t be going away any time soon.

TAGS: Chicago, municipal pensions, pensions

Moody’s: Chicago taxpayers on the hook for growing pension contributions

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

11/12/2015

Chicago’s contributions to its government-worker pension funds will jump to $1 billion in 2016 from $500 million in 2015, according to a new report by Moody’s Investors Service.

TAGS: Chicago, pensions

7 pension reforms that Illinois can still enact despite the SB1 ruling

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

11/06/2015

Although the Illinois Supreme Court has ruled that altering pension benefits of current government workers violates the Illinois Constitution, there are still actions – from politicians voluntarily reforming their own pension system, to allowing municipal bankruptcy – that Illinois can take to set government-worker pensions on a more fiscally sound path.

TAGS: 401(k), pensions

The Edgar ramp – the ‘reform’ that unleashed Illinois’ pension crisis

By Ted Dabrowski

10/27/2015

The former governor’s landmark pension bill paved the way for two decades of go-along-to-get-along pension politics, turning Illinois' pension debt into the nation's largest retirement crisis.

TAGS: Edgar Ramp, pensions

Illinois’ budget crunch: No cash for pensions

By Ted Dabrowski

10/15/2015

Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger announced the state will delay a $560 million pension payment as the state’s government-pension-driven fiscal crisis worsens.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, Illinois Supreme Court, Leslie Munger, pensions