* A host of people representing Illinois businesses signed an open letter to legislators today…
Dear Legislator:
We are writing as a coalition of Illinois’ major employers and civic groups to ask you to support the bipartisan pension reform bill that was agreed to by the four legislative leaders last week. The bill is to be discussed on December 3rd in a Conference Committee hearing.
The pension crisis is by far the most pressing economic issue facing the State of Illinois today. Despite rapidly escalating pension contributions that are consuming the State’s budget and crowding out funding for critical State services, the fiscal health of the pension funds themselves continues to deteriorate. The bill is a good bill and deserves your support. It incorporates a number of benefit reforms that have been widely discussed and that we have supported in the past.
While not a solution to all of the state’s fiscal problems, this bill is a significant step forward. It will stabilize the pension systems and help put Illinois on the path to fiscal stability. We should note our strong support is conditioned only on the final language of the bill reflecting the reform provisions previously outlined.
We urge you to vote in the best interest of every Illinois citizen, public employee and pensioner and vote yes for the bipartisan pension reform bill.
The letter is signed by…
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Dec 2, 13 @ 4:30 pm:
“More like this” Please …
The only way Bruce Rauner and his millions are going to be stifled is if the “Community” he loves so much, the business community, decides to say “enough is enough with the hyperbole” and just call him out.
Otherwise, Bruce Rauner is just going to run roughshod through the campaign claiming he is the only one who understands business and is unquestionably right.
Good on the letter.
- Nearly Normal - Monday, Dec 2, 13 @ 4:32 pm:
The usual suspects in the list. No surprises. Wonder if State Farm’s Ed Rust is emailing his employees to call their legislators to support the bill.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Dec 2, 13 @ 4:35 pm:
Rauner, Martin and Kirk are getting lonely on that limb they climbed out to in the last 24 hours.
The people signing this letter know something about government and politics and none of them are thrilled with higher taxes or in bed with public employee unions.
Please keep calling it the Madigan bill Mr. Rauner. Please keep insulting Senator Radogno, Leader Durkin, President Cullerton and these folks who signed this letter, you know, the people who are actually attempting to fix the mess.
- Charlatan Heston - Monday, Dec 2, 13 @ 4:43 pm:
@OW- ditto and I only wish that the entire electorate would decided that “enough is enough with the hyperbole” and call out most campaigning politicians…
- vicki - Monday, Dec 2, 13 @ 4:45 pm:
Of course…Chicago people who don’t work for the state. . Who haven’t paid into the system for yrs…. but have sure liked having the funds from my pension diverted to you. ….I earned and paid for my pension.
- wordslinger - Monday, Dec 2, 13 @ 4:49 pm:
Rauner has to be tearing his hair out. His whole campaign narrative is going down the tubes.
Republican leaders in the GA and Big biz are on board, unions are opposed. Farmer Bruce has lost his boogie-man.
- Whatever - Monday, Dec 2, 13 @ 4:50 pm:
Who’s on first?
- RNUG - Monday, Dec 2, 13 @ 4:53 pm:
The major problem with that letter is it’s false premise that this bill will fix the pension systems.
- walkinfool - Monday, Dec 2, 13 @ 4:53 pm:
We might not like all these folks want to do to the pension system, but it will survive. They at least attempt to deal with reality and compromise.
Their opponents, Martin, Rauner, Kirk, etc. want to destroy it entirely.
- Anonymous - Monday, Dec 2, 13 @ 4:59 pm:
=Rauner has to be tearing his hair out. His whole campaign narrative is going down the tubes.=
He still has his watch…and all that campaign money.
It really can’t be this “simple,” can it? They must have put a few eggs in another basket, right?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Dec 2, 13 @ 5:02 pm:
- wordslinger -,
I still blame my self for not getting AWillyWord Con$ulting on the Rauner Gravy Train, but we all might have dodged a bullet.
Can you imagine his Crew sitting around the table trying to identify the next strawman. If it was catered well, then I guess that would be fun(?)
- Anonymous - Monday, Dec 2, 13 @ 5:08 pm:
=Can you imagine his Crew sitting around the table trying to identify the next strawman.=
Like managing to “buy” the election anyway? Even after all the “screw-ups?” Why do I have a funny feeling that that type of scenario would make Rauner and Kirk most pleased?
- Willie Stark - Monday, Dec 2, 13 @ 5:50 pm:
Willy, it’s on to taxes for Rauner and Co., as if pensions never happened. Count on it.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Dec 2, 13 @ 5:56 pm:
===Count on it. ===
Agreed.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Dec 2, 13 @ 6:01 pm:
Agree as well.
Taxes will now be a centerpiece, if the Bill passes and gets signed, and until the Court decides anything.
I was having fun at the Carhartt’s expense.
- Former Merit Comp Slave - Monday, Dec 2, 13 @ 6:17 pm:
Ty and the boys are planning how to spend $16oB
- cod - Monday, Dec 2, 13 @ 6:19 pm:
This open letter is a declaration to all GA members to do as they say, or forsake any campaign contributions from business executives in the next election. That message is unmistakable.
They dont want no stinking graduated income tax, they want the retired teachers pay instead. Rauner may just be their extremist shill.
- DoubleD - Monday, Dec 2, 13 @ 6:44 pm:
Can someone tell me the net worth and net tax paid by the people signed to this letter? My guess is that the ratio pales in comparison to the workers.
Given this time of year…To these people workers like us are merely cattle to be bought and sold. Is it too much to ask that we be given a decent bed and bath to do all of our working, living, and dying? Well at least to this worker, I think not and I will work to my last breath to remove all the people responsible from office.
- Anonymous - Monday, Dec 2, 13 @ 6:57 pm:
=I think not=
Well, once it’s all gone there’s not much left besides the right to speak freely…and hopefully, one’s lovely manners (though I’m often surprised how some whom I never expected would, often lose those, too).
Lions and tigers and bears…Oh My!
- Arthur Andersen - Monday, Dec 2, 13 @ 9:01 pm:
Willy, we would have been clever enough to be “in the field” the day the stuff hit the fan. I hope.
Agree with all that Taxes is next for Baron Carhartt.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Dec 2, 13 @ 9:12 pm:
- AA -,
We would have been golfing.
I would say this to that - AA -;
AWillyWord Con$ulting.. wouldn’t have worn the … jacket … on this either. Rauner holding his powder was the only move that could be considered “damage control”.
- Quinn is the Grinch - Monday, Dec 2, 13 @ 9:50 pm:
Governor Quinn is the Grinch that stole Christmas to State employees and retirees. He is heartless. He lied in his last campaign when he said that he had a heart. He has an ice cold heart like all Chicago machine democrats.
- wordslinger - Monday, Dec 2, 13 @ 9:53 pm:
I think it should be Baron von Carharrt.
I mean, the dude has a moat at his Central Park digs.
If you have a moat, I think you rate a “von.”
But I’ll defer to the guy who swallowed the German dictionary over the weekend….
- Think About It - Monday, Dec 2, 13 @ 9:56 pm:
Rauner has been short on substance, but good on sound bites. Illinois needs candidates who are willing to provide solutions to problems and sign on the dotted line. Not provide rhetoric.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Dec 2, 13 @ 10:00 pm:
===I think it should be Baron von Carharrt.===
You just took me back a “few years” to AWA Wrestling on Sunday Mornings with the Iron Sheik and Baron Von Raschke.
At least you knew they were fakes(?)
- SpellCheck - Monday, Dec 2, 13 @ 10:02 pm:
Does that say “taxpayers”?
- Don't Worry, Be Happy - Monday, Dec 2, 13 @ 11:08 pm:
I thought Vite retired.