* I told subscribers about these numbers yesterday, but here are the new proposed salary percentages for the pension reform plan…

Under the proposal, the General Assembly will pay roughly 25 percent of their salaries into the pension system. Teachers will pay 13 percent and state employees will pay 14 percent, said state Rep. Kevin McCarthy, D-Orland Park, who did not have figures on hand for university employees. The percentages are pending lawmakers’ approval.

Today, lawmakers in the General Assembly pay 11.5 percent, teachers 9.4 percent, universities 8 percent and state employees 4 percent or 8 percent of their salaries into their pension.

As of Sunday, McCarthy did not have numbers for state workers who are also in the Social Security program. So, I’m not totally sure about that 14 percent number in the ISN story.

* Judges are not included in the bill…

State Rep. Jack Franks, D-Woodstock, said the measure likely will be ruled constitutional because despite asking people to pay more, it doesn’t necessarily give people reduced benefits. He said a ruling either way would set a precedent.

“But (judges) better be careful what they wish for, because if they do rule that it is constitutional, then nothing would be barring us from next year of doing the same thing to them,” Franks said. “So I think it’s just a political calculation on the part of the sponsor. Frankly, I would have just left them in.”

* Former Gov. Edgar has some reservations…

Former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar said he fears changes in the pension payments might deter future employees from having long careers in state government.

“Is that going to cause an exit of quality people in state government?” Edgar asked. “We already have a morale problem with state workers. We’ve lost a lot of good people, and we can’t afford to lose more people.”

* Meanwhile, the “We Are One” labor coalition has a new radio ad opposing the plan. Rate it…

Click to download

Script…

The politicians in Springfield are at it again.

This time they’re playing with the retirement security of our teachers, police, firefighters, caregivers and other public servants who help our community every day.

80% of these public employees don’t get Social Security. The modest pensions they paid for, and were promised, are their only life savings.

The fact is, most already pay 8% or more from every paycheck to fund their own retirements. They’ve never missed a payment.

They did their jobs. But the politicians didn’t do theirs. For years theyfailed to make the required payments.

And now that the bill is due the politicians want to go back on what they promised and force public employees to pay the price.

Tell the Springfield politicians to clean up their own mess. Don’t cut public employee pensions.

Go to We Are one Illinois.org to help, today.

This message paid for by We Are One Illinois.