Springfield Judge Puts Stay On Pension Law
From the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
A judge has ruled the state’s controversial pension reform law should be delayed, citing uncertainty over how it would impact thousands of current state workers and retirees.
Sangamon County Circuit Judge John W. Belz this afternoon granted a temporary restraining order sought by the plaintiffs in the case — a coalition of groups challenging the law’s constitutionality.
Belz said the law, which would generally force employees to contribute more to their retirement and receive less, had created “across the board confusion.”
He said delaying its implementation until the courts ruled on the merits of the case was “not just the right thing to do legally, but the right thing to do.”
The law was passed by the General Assembly as Senate Bill 1 in December, and subsequently signed by Gov. Patrick J. Quinn. Since then, five separate lawsuits have been filed and consolidated.
Among other things, they argue that the law violates a section of the Illinois Constitution which says state pension benefits “shall not be diminished or impaired.”
The law was set to take effect June 1.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
A judge has ruled the state’s controversial pension reform law should be delayed, citing uncertainty over how it would impact thousands of current state workers and retirees.
Sangamon County Circuit Judge John W. Belz this afternoon granted a temporary restraining order sought by the plaintiffs in the case — a coalition of groups challenging the law’s constitutionality.
Belz said the law, which would generally force employees to contribute more to their retirement and receive less, had created “across the board confusion.”
He said delaying its implementation until the courts ruled on the merits of the case was “not just the right thing to do legally, but the right thing to do.”
The law was passed by the General Assembly as Senate Bill 1 in December, and subsequently signed by Gov. Patrick J. Quinn. Since then, five separate lawsuits have been filed and consolidated.
Among other things, they argue that the law violates a section of the Illinois Constitution which says state pension benefits “shall not be diminished or impaired.”
The law was set to take effect June 1.
Read more in our daily News Update...