Pension Votes Die In House: GOP Says It’s ‘Another Day Of Games’
From the Southern Illinoisan
Illinois lawmakers rejected a series of proposals Thursday that would have drastically reduced pension benefits for state employees.
Just a handful of members of the 118-member House voted in favor of a proposal to cancel cost-of-living increases for retired workers. Only five backed a plan to suspend cost-of-living increases until the state pension systems are 80 percent funded, up from their current rate of about 39 percent.
A similar fate befell a proposal to raise the retirement age to 67, while a provision calling for workers to contribute an additional 5 percent to the cost of their pensions garnered just three “yes” votes.
Republicans took no part in the voting, accusing House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, of playing politics with the state’s pension mess.
“Another day of games? This is anything but real” said House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego. “We need to sit down and cut the BS.”
The debate came as lawmakers struggle to find a way to reduce pension costs that are squeezing spending on other parts of state government. In his annual budget speech next week, Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to blame rising pension costs for forcing him to cut spending on schools.
Madigan spokesman Steve Brown defended the action in the House, saying the process gave lawmakers an opportunity to cast a vote and show where they stand. He said it was a way to try and move the issue of pension reform forward.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Southern Illinoisan
Illinois lawmakers rejected a series of proposals Thursday that would have drastically reduced pension benefits for state employees.
Just a handful of members of the 118-member House voted in favor of a proposal to cancel cost-of-living increases for retired workers. Only five backed a plan to suspend cost-of-living increases until the state pension systems are 80 percent funded, up from their current rate of about 39 percent.
A similar fate befell a proposal to raise the retirement age to 67, while a provision calling for workers to contribute an additional 5 percent to the cost of their pensions garnered just three “yes” votes.
Republicans took no part in the voting, accusing House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, of playing politics with the state’s pension mess.
“Another day of games? This is anything but real” said House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego. “We need to sit down and cut the BS.”
The debate came as lawmakers struggle to find a way to reduce pension costs that are squeezing spending on other parts of state government. In his annual budget speech next week, Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to blame rising pension costs for forcing him to cut spending on schools.
Madigan spokesman Steve Brown defended the action in the House, saying the process gave lawmakers an opportunity to cast a vote and show where they stand. He said it was a way to try and move the issue of pension reform forward.
Read more in our daily News Update...