49 Comments - mokenavince - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 1:13 pm: There is a marked improvement in Quinns work. - Red Ranger - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 1:20 pm: They are proposals with ideas. That beats almost everyone else. He is really showing the GOP to be the party of “No” and no ideas. The plans he has presented over the last two days may not look like anything that eventually becomes law, but at least he has prsented something more than a press conference filled with sound bites. The plans are close to passing the straight-face test. I know it is a low threshold, but its all we got. - 3rd Generation Chicago Native - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 1:20 pm: The plan would have employees paying an additional 3 percent of their salary each year toward their pension, reduce cost-of-living increases to 3 percent, or one-half the rate of inflation — whichever is smaller — and boost the normal retirement age to 67. It now begins as low as age 55 in some plans. good this looks like most of the non government employees retirement plans - siriusly - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 1:28 pm: This Pat Quinn is doing what he is supposed to do. Agree or not, you can’t say he isn’t standing up to the challenges here. - Cook County Commoner - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 1:30 pm: The continuance of defined benefit plans, as proposed by the Governor, (ultimately guaranteed by the taxpayors) evidences an elitist mind-set placing public sector employees above the rest of us. And by passing pension costs of non-Chicago schools to the school districts, if I understand this point correctly, will essentially de-value properties in the districts with large, under-funded school pension plans. According to Treasurer Pappas’ web-site, the pension plan for Niles Township Distict 219 (a large high school on my tax roll) is under-funded by over $12 million (less than 60% funded). I presume this number does not include healthcare. Seems like nibbling around the edges without the major changes needed to put Illinois back on its feet. Unions win big with this one. - Ellen Beth Gill - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 1:32 pm: He’s only doing his job if you assume that it’s to cut programs to make sure that the wealthy don’t have to pay taxes and businesses should be allowed to extort tax breaks from local communities under threat of leaving. If you think our leaders should be talking to us about changing our priorities, then none of them are doing their job in Springfield. - Ahoy - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 1:33 pm: Yes, but I’m not sure the GA has in either party. The Democrats still don’t seem to get it and the Republican’s seem worried that they might actually have to vote on something, it’s a lot easier to hold press conferences and talk about the issues than it is to provide bills and to vote on the issues. The Governor finally understands how bad it is. I wonder if he will have the guts to veto a budget that doesn’t provide the necessary cuts, because I don’t think the GA can produce. - sadie - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 1:36 pm: Niles Twn Dist 219 has some of the highest paid teachers in the State - a few years ago they were the highest - cause of one of the problems with the $ - $ are being sent to Chicago for school pensions - Fed up - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 1:36 pm: We will see in the next six months he will flip flop so much that he won’t even what god put him here for. - Stuff happens - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 1:44 pm: 3rd Generation Chicago Native: “good this looks like most of the non government employees retirement plans.” I think non-government employees are paying a whopping 4.1% on their social security this year. He’s going to ask the pensioners to pay up to 13%, depending on their plan. - Captain Illini - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 1:49 pm: To answer your narrowly framed question, yes, the Governor has a better grasp of his job, and I give him credit for trying to tackle the difficult issues instead of teeing them up for the kick down the road…time will tell if he’ll stay to the end of the game. - Decaf Coffee Party - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 1:58 pm: Seems to me real leaders negotiate behind the scenes, get their ducks in a row and announce a plan. I’ll give him credit for throwing out the skeleton of a plan, but something like this that is sparce on specifics could have been lobbed into the fray months or years ago and it plainly invites a constitutional court challenge even given the “choice” employees would have. - Sunshine - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 2:06 pm: No. The fact that he is doing what he needs to do does not say he is doing all he is supposed to do and can do. Likely most of his ideas came from this site during the question/survey presented by Rich last year. There is still a lot of pain to be felt and it isn’t going to be just from those who can’t afford lobbyists or paid politicians. Until we make hard choices that affect everyone, including unions, retirees, and legislative perks, we really haven’t gotten to the real meat of cutting where Quinn must truly move toward leading. Pretty simple but not pretty. - Liberty_first - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 2:09 pm: In my mind, leadership would be admitting the state caused the problem and is not going to engage in scapegoating all public employees and announcing a demand for salary cuts from union employees. - Robert - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 2:09 pm: ==Likely most of his ideas came from this site during the question/survey presented by Rich last year.== There are worse sources of information. - wordonthestreet - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 2:13 pm: Yes…. but that ain’t sayin’ much. Still has a long, long way to go. By his appointments and personnel decisions (e.g., who to keep and who to hire), it’s clear he still doesn’t have a clue what makes government actually work for the citizens. - Retired Non-Union Guy - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 2:21 pm: I’m not a Quinn fan, but he does seem to be growing in the job. He does seem to grasp the problems and is throwing proposals out there. It remains to be seen if he can arm twist the legislature in to actually adopting some of them … - Anonymous - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 2:24 pm: Yes, but only because he was starting from so low. - Retired Non-Union Guy - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 2:24 pm: Liberty_first @ 2:09, Quinn did admit that the State created the problem. - otownie - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 2:24 pm: If I were looking for a job it certainly would not be working for the state. Taxpayers hate you, the GA is going to stick it to you, and if this talk becomes reality your union is so weak you have to wonder why it even exists. None of the unions can protect the most important benefits to any worker - your retirement and healthcare. - Ray del Camino - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 2:28 pm: He’s putting the hard choices out there–and not adding to his popularity a bit. Maybe he’s decided he’s going to be a one-term wonder and he’ll just gut it out and try to put things on the right path. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 2:28 pm: I think he’s always had a good “grasp” of the job, but he started out with sea legs. Now he’s not only got a good grasp, but better footing. - WizzardOfOzzie - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 2:31 pm: “No. The fact that he is doing what he needs to do does not say he is doing all he is supposed to do and can do. Likely most of his ideas came from this site during the question/survey presented by Rich last year. There is still a lot of pain to be felt and it isn’t going to be just from those who can’t afford lobbyists or paid politicians. Until we make hard choices that affect everyone, including unions, retirees, and legislative perks, we really haven’t gotten to the real meat of cutting where Quinn must truly move toward leading. Pretty simple but not pretty.” Huh? That is list of talking points put together, not a coherent thought. Quinn’s medicaid and pension proposals are the most balanced, thoughtful proposals that are out there. People may not like him, but he is taking on the state’s problems one at a time with great success (we’ll see how this goes). Capital bill to address job creation, tax increase to provide necessary resources, and now pension and medicaid reform. If these proposals pass, that will be a pretty impressive record for any Governor. - Liberty_first - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 2:33 pm: - Retired Non-Union Guy - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 2:24 pm: Yes, Quinn admitted they caused the problem but the AND defines the context of the sentence……. - Liberal_Dem - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 2:45 pm: Quinn’s plans and “tough decisions” are not necessarily thought out. A lot of (if not majority of) the time his plans do not take the human cost associated into consideration. Yes- he grasps part of his job is to look into cost saving measures but the other part is to look into the human cost and NEW revenue. There are avenues to raise revenue- The Gaming Bill (he vetoed) and the Debt Restructuring bill introduced in the Senate. If he really wants to be a “Governor” he would start looking into new revenue instead of major cuts (and a cig tax that may drive smokers out of state and online to buy cigs). - Earnest - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 2:47 pm: I voted yes, but am actually holding back the “e” and the “s” until we see whether he remains engaged in the process. - Name Withheld - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 3:07 pm: Before I answer the poll, does this count as a ‘pension sweetener’? - JustaJoe - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 3:08 pm: “No”. I say that because at the core of a position like his must be leadership. However, for the most part he is a party of one. No one is following. Sure, part of that leadership is to put forth ideas on specific plans, but those plans need to ignite action that will get something done. I don’t see that. The bigger thing is to set a tone, set a vision. It still seems to me as though our governor and GA are flailing around and failing around. - Jim - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 3:08 pm: who caused the problem is obvious, but it’s also irrelevant. The problem has to be fixed because the systems are not sustainable under the status quo. that’s the hard reality. Quinn’s proposals are a start and he deserves credit for putting forward a plan. But he is the governor, and that’s what he is supposed to do. - Regular Reader - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 3:09 pm: Yes. There’s a marked change from last year, and I commend the governor for offering ideas. He’s certainly not irrelevant this time around. - Ann - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 3:17 pm: He’s serious. He’s put a lot of work into this. He’s not just pulling this out from his whatever, like it sometimes seemed in the past. - Lil' Enchilada - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 3:21 pm: This alone does not make him a good Governor or indicate he knows what he’s doing. He needs to put his big boy pants on one leg at a time every day if he wants to impress me. I voted NO. - Old geezer and caregiver - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 3:21 pm: So…he admits the State is at fault basically…and…intends to punish the old, infirm, and poor for it by taking away the few benefits they have, instead of punishing who is at fault. I, for one, have a hard time understanding this. God forbid he should suggest leaning on the overpaid, over “benefitted” politicians on both sides of the aisle. - Wensicia - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 3:23 pm: Quinn seems to have a better sense of what needs to be done, but he needs to improve his interactions with the GA and the follow through on his goals. - collar observer - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 3:26 pm: Quinn took charge today - and led with solutions. Much more than anyone else in Springfield. - otownie - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 3:32 pm: Membership in any pension or retirement system of the State, any unit of local government or school district, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, shall be an enforceable contractual relationship, the benefits of which shall not be diminished or impaired. - Sound like todays proposals pass the constitution test? - Huggybunny - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 3:32 pm: No, our Governors/legislators created this mess by not making the required State payments, every taxpayer/voter is responsible for the elected officials we vote into office, so every taxpayer is responsible for what our elected officials do. Cut the handouts, freebies and perks out first, there’s so much money misspent in our government it’s disgusting to think about. - steve schnorf - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 3:43 pm: He’s stepping up. It won’t be easy for him to stay the course over the next 40 days. The things he is doing are not pleasant, they don’t come naturally to him and I’m sure he takes little pleasure in doing them. That’s the price of the office, though. His Medicaid proposals and pension proposals represent the hard part of a Governor’s job. But, if they are enacted (or something of equal scope done) they will be as significant as anything any Governor in this state has done for a long time. I wish him good luck. - Cincinnatus - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 3:43 pm: Even a blind squirrel gets a nut from time to time. Quinn appears to have a new found sense of purpose, but consistency and stability is key. The real question is how he works with Madigan. Any improvement there? - James the Intolerant - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 3:45 pm: Can someone give me a clear answer concerning what 100% funded entails? I have heard that 100% funded would cover all employees currently in the pension if they ALL retired today? If that is true, what funding level is adequate? - NW Illinois - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 3:46 pm: Absolutely. He’s trying to tackle these historic financial challenges and he’s meeting them with solid, fiscally-responsible solutions that will trigger an avalanche of special interest opposition. That’s leadership. That’s what this state needs. - Bitterman - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 3:51 pm: By George I think he’s got it! I think he’s got it! Now, once again where is the pain? - Jade_rabbit - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 3:56 pm: - Stuff happens - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 1:44 pm: 3rd Generation Chicago Native: “good this looks like most of the non government employees retirement plans.” I think non-government employees are paying a whopping 4.1% on their social security this year. He’s going to ask the pensioners to pay up to 13%, depending on their plan. And the return on that 13% is far better than the return on the 4.1%. - otownie - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 3:58 pm: James - this might help. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120413/news/704139963/ “The pension funds have about 43.3 percent of the money they need to cover projected payouts to everyone enrolled. The funds have plenty of money to pay out pensions to retirees for the near future, especially as the state continues to contribute. But most actuaries agree the pension systems should aim for a funding level of 90 percent.” - Sunshine - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 4:02 pm: Wizzard….it is in fact a coherent thought, and my own. He is not capable of making the hard choices, yet. Perhaps, but not yet. He must start leading and not waffling. Remains to be seen if he can lead and work with the leadership. This site likely has done more in steering him than any other. It is diverse, and open with all opinions accepted, other than those excepted by the famous “Bite me” hammer. - WizzardOfOzzie - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 4:19 pm: “He is not capable of making the hard choices” These are proposals to cut $2.7 B in spending to medicaid and fully fund the pension systems in 30 years. Do you think the hospitals, human service providers, labor unions, etc are happy? Have you even read the proposals? “He must start by leading…” He is leading on these issues and no one has come out with proposals as reasonable and creative as these. I’m having a real hard understanding what you’re saying. - James the Intolerant - Friday, Apr 20, 12 @ 6:03 pm: Thanks otownie. To Rich on the passing of Levon Helm, my daughter is still jealous that I saw Bob Dylan with the Band as the opening act at the Stadium in 1973. - Just The Way It Is One - Saturday, Apr 21, 12 @ 12:10 am: As that Band for the ages once sang, it’s a “long and winding Road…” but yes, the Governor is right back on it with these reforms, and in the Driver’s seat. Good to see. It’s Spring and these ideas are not only “bold” and courageous, but truly a breath of fresh air for–and to really help out for the long haul–our beloved Land of Lincoln…Way to go, Governor! - Louis Howe - Saturday, Apr 21, 12 @ 12:39 am: Quinn’s making progress but will he march forward or around in circles? Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.