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* Press release…
Despite repeated requests from a House committee, state education officials refused to appear at a Tuesday hearing to explain why the state’s superintendent of schools continues to receive an overly generous pension perk funded with taxpayer dollars.
“The state’s credit is being downgraded yet again, the governor’s handpicked comptroller has unilaterally decided to skip a statutorily mandated pension payment, and our tax dollars are being managed by a tangled web of court orders. The situation in Springfield is a full-blown financial crisis, but amid all this, taxpayers can’t even get a straight answer as to why officials within this administration are ignoring the clear intent of a state law meant specifically to save taxpayer dollars and rein in extravagant retirement perks,” said state Rep. Jack Franks, chair of the House State Government Administration Committee. “These decisions are too important to be made in a back room. The State Board of Education and this administration need to step out of the shadows and allow a real open discussion on their use of public funds.”
Under a 2010 state law that passed with strong support from Democrats and Republicans to rein in rising pension costs, state employees hired after December 31, 2010, are under a pension plan more modest than employees hired before that time. But the law hasn’t stopped the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) from giving state Superintendent of Education Tony Smith an additional yearly stipend, which translates into larger taxpayer-funded contributions toward a taxpayer-funded pension for Smith. The stipend is in addition to Smith’s $225,000 state salary, taxpayers paying the employee and employer portion of his family’s health care and life insurance, 35 vacation days each year plus sick time and a $500 per month auto allowance amongst other perks.
At a hearing of the State Government Administration Committee in July, Franks urged ISBE to renegotiate Smith’s contract to remove the pension stipend. When the board announced in September that they would not reconsider the contract, Franks requested Smith and Chairman James Meeks return to discuss the board’s management of taxpayer funds.
“Democrats and Republicans agreed that the creation of a Tier II pension plan was necessary to help save taxpayer dollars and was an appropriate benefit plan for new employees. That’s why it troubles me to see ISBE so blatantly ignore the cost-saving intentions behind the law,” Franks said. “Taxpayers deserve to know why the board continues to use our tax dollars to pay a perk that no other private or public sector employees receive.”
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 12:44 pm
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Please oh please…
Let there be a Goldberg waiting in the offing.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 12:46 pm
If that is good enough for everyone else…
Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 12:48 pm
Superstars are never, never second tier.
Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 1:09 pm
Because it is only for the little people.
Comment by ISP Retired Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 1:09 pm
Does Franks not realize how stunts like this play into Rauner’s hands?
Time was, you didn’t want the General Assembly in session with nothing to do to avoid precisely this kind of thing. But this Governor welcomes it, and points to sham hearings as another example of a system that needs reform and legislators who are out of touch. He has no shame, and attempts to shame him only convince him he’s winning.
C’mon Jack. We get it. We know about Rauner’s pension hypocrisy. Stop giving Rauner the theater he wants. Just stop.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 1:16 pm
It has been a while since we heard from Goldberg, Good point Willy!
Comment by illini Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 1:18 pm
Just another sham hearing.
Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 1:18 pm
OW - I was thinking the same thing. The day is young. Snark will come!
Comment by Runbikeswim Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 1:18 pm
Maybe they could reduce his auto allowance by $50 a month. There, that’s “negotiating in good faith.”
Comment by Sir Reel Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 1:19 pm
- illini -, - Runbikeswim -,
It’s an honor to be “Goldberged”. I’m hoping Franks gets that honor so we can all bask in its wonerdous snark and its flowery contempt.
The “Prince of Snarkness” never fails to deliver. Goldberg is most likely my favorite. That ain’t snark.
My goal, one day, is to be chastised by both a Goldberg and a Speaker Madigan letter. I’d frame ‘em, and no auto pen.
- 47th Ward -,
To the “other side” of the “Goldberg”, I agree.
Franks is playing into the flip side of what Goldberging means;
Allowing the processes of governing to come to a grinding halt and be mocked for it.
It doesn’t help the process.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 1:27 pm
Perhaps the Education Secretary could explain the situation with the Superintendent of Education.
Kind of a good cop/bad cop thing.
There has to be a reason to have both…..
Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 2:00 pm
“And now, appearing one night only, I give you Rich Goldberg & The Sham Hearings!”
Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 2:05 pm
Franks, the best way to deal with it is to dollar line item the superintendent the next chance you get.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 2:23 pm
Love the sound of it, “Jack Franks”.
Say it again?
Comment by Denny Crain, Attorney, Boston Mass Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 2:40 pm
The Administration doesn’t respect those questioning them - so they don’t appear in meetings where they are questioned.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 2:56 pm
Jack Franks huffs and puffs and very few people really care.
Comment by Buzzie Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 3:32 pm
Why would pay a school supt more than we pay our Governor? Across the entire state school superintendents are overpaid and make up the top 100 money takers in the pension plan
Comment by Ben Franklin Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 4:19 pm
Don’t keep holding these hearings, just whenever there actually is a budget put together (if it ever is) knock a couple hundred grand out of the line item dealing with that deal and send a message that way. Just don’t give them the money.
Comment by MyTwoCents Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 6:00 pm