IEA, IFT, SEIU executives supported skipping pension payments

By Amy Korte

02/01/2016

Government-worker union officials filed papers with the Illinois General Assembly in favor of the “pension holiday” that contributed to the state’s $111 billion pension debt.

TAGS: pensions

To fix education funding, Cullerton should focus on reforming pensions

By Ted Dabrowski

01/26/2016

From 2009 to 2014, the state added $8.9 billion in new tax dollars to the education budget, over and above the base amount of $6.8 billion it spent in 2009. Of those new dollars spent, 89 percent went to retirement costs and just 11 percent made it to classrooms.

TAGS: John Cullerton

Pensions vs. schools

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

01/26/2016

Since 2009, 89 cents of every new dollar for education goes to teacher pensions

The $53 million boogeyman: Illinois’ financial woes due to decades of mismanagement, not 7 months of gridlock

By Mark Adams

01/22/2016

Illinois paid $53 million more to borrow money through its Jan. 14 bond sale than it would have paid had politicians not let the state’s debt and government-worker pension obligations spiral out of control, while driving out taxpaying residents and businesses through tax hikes and costly regulations.

TAGS: credit rating

Rauner making moves on pension reform

By Ted Dabrowski

01/21/2016

On Jan. 21 Gov. Bruce Rauner reignited reform talks surrounding Illinois’ worst-in-the-nation pension crisis.

TAGS: pensions

Despite massive stock-market rally, Illinois’ pension liabilities go up and up and up

01/05/2016

The fiscal crises caused by the state’s government-worker pension liabilities.

Kentucky governor-elect: 401(k)-style plans for new government employees

By Ted Dabrowski

11/23/2015

Kentucky’s governor-elect wants 401(k)s for new government employees.

TAGS: 401(k), pensions

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

8 things to know about Chicago’s pension-reform law

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

11/15/2015

A Cook County judge is scheduled to rule on the constitutionality of Chicago's pension-reform law on July 24. No matter what the outcome is, the pension overhaul will eventually end up in the Illinois Supreme Court. But the ruling may give a clue as to whether or not the city’s reforms will ultimately be upheld.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, Municipal Employees' Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago

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

Illinois Supreme Court

IEA, IFT, SEIU executives supported skipping pension payments

To fix education funding, Cullerton should focus on reforming pensions

Pensions vs. schools

The $53 million boogeyman: Illinois’ financial woes due to decades of mismanagement, not 7 months of gridlock

Rauner making moves on pension reform

Despite massive stock-market rally, Illinois’ pension liabilities go up and up and up

Kentucky governor-elect: 401(k)-style plans for new government employees

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

8 things to know about Chicago’s pension-reform law

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

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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