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Barely, if ever, mentioned: That controversial pension bill unanimously passed both chambers
Wednesday, Aug 6, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Crain’s…
* Tribune…
* Wirepoints…
* OK, first of all, the bill didn’t just pass with a “veto-proof majority.” House Bill 3657 unanimously passed both chambers. Every single Illinois Freedom Caucus member - Reps. Chris Miller, Blaine Wilhour, Adam Niemerg, Brad Halbrook, Jed Davis, David Friess and Sen. Andrew Chesney (named the “most conservative Senator in Illinois”) - voted “Yes.” Some Republicans voted against the proposal in committee, but once a bill that benefits first responders hits the floor, it’s very difficult to vote against it, as evidenced by that roll call. All a veto would have likely accomplished was a delay. Maybe do a better job lobbying the Statehouse, Mr. Mayor. * Also, the new city casino is supposed to help fund first responder pensions. The mayor really needs to get moving on this. Yes, he was handed a mess by Lori Lightfoot, but a revenue stream is out there just waiting for him. Also, equalizing pensions was part of the deal that was cut to consolidate the local first responder pension funds.
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- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 11:23 am:
“Back the Blue”
…unless it means a pension that gives them a middle-class pension after years of hazardous service.
Wirepoints, IPI, just openly admit you’re a shill for billionaires that long for the days of feudalism.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 11:25 am:
I don’t believe the Mayor was genuinely opposed to the bill. Nice way to try to foist a problem on the Governor.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 11:26 am:
===“Back the Blue”===
More like “defund the police”
- Big Dipper - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 11:36 am:
It does seem unfair that only first responders get this and not other Tier 2 state and local employees. It just seems like pandering.
- Make It Make.Sense - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 11:37 am:
So my kid’s public school isn’t gonna be adequately funded because my state legislator thinks that all the po-po should get a lakehouse and a boat?
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 11:39 am:
===should get a lakehouse and a boat?===
C’mon. It’s Tier Two.
- Mason County - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 11:39 am:
An insult to other state and local employees. This should not have been passed unless all other Tier 2 employees were included.
- Blue Dog - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 11:43 am:
Governors own.
- Garfield Ridge Guy - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 11:44 am:
The Governor could have issued an AV that built in the minimum “safe harbor” provisions, and struck the other concessions to past and future pension-holders. The governor did the politically expedient thing, and not the right thing.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 11:48 am:
===The Governor could have issued an AV===
Have you ever seen a governor do that to a unanimous bill?
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 12:04 pm:
===This should not have been passed unless all other Tier 2 employees were included. ===
Take it up with Council 31.
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 12:04 pm:
“Maybe do a better job lobbying the Statehouse, Mr. Mayor.”
Giving sound advice to someone that thinks he knows everything is most often pointless.
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 12:10 pm:
===Democratic Comptroller Susanna Mendoza criticized it===
The Comptroller’s official role involves the pension board and the state board of investment. She’s the expert on this topic.
===More like “defund the police” ===
Rich is right. The folks that are in favor of this bill aren’t thinking big picture. They presume that the money to fund additional pension costs will appear as if by magic rather than having the result of the city being required to cut existing services.
They also may not recognize that there has been some impact in how the public views the police due to some of their unnecessarily antagonistic approaches to the public over the last 5 years, never mind the history.
- cube - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 12:26 pm:
if JB is running for president (and he is) then he needs to build up his bona fides with the left and labor. a billionaire white guy isnt the prime demographic for left wing democrats. this vote is a good start to that. and there really is no downside for JB because it was going to pass anyway. it was unanimous!
the next step for him is winning the governor’s race and then immediately passing a tax on services. its the only way they can pay for this AND it shows his liberal voters he’s not afraid to “tax the rich.”
- Endated - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 12:48 pm:
If the governor wanted the bill to die, it would be dead…
- Moseley - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 12:51 pm:
Freedom Caucus yes vote on this is certainly a rare occurrence. Rich correctly points out that they wanted to support first responder benefits. More to it. Blaine Wilhour also made the comment on the floor during debate (paraphrasing) his abnormal “yes” vote on this had much to do with the sweetening of CTU Pensions ($175mil), making the point he believes CPD/CFD deserve an improvement as well. Link here to Wilhour/Kifowit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEu4S3erjVs
- low level - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 12:56 pm:
==Maybe do a better job lobbying the Statehouse, Mr. Mayor.==
Worst IGA team ever. You’d think the 5th Floor (Mayor’s Office) and 4th Floor (IGA office) would have learned by now. They havent. Not good.
- Blazzzer - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 1:06 pm:
If you’re under the salary cap, Tier 2 ain’t a bad deal. Chi Tier 2 cop retires earning $127K at age 55 after 20 years. That’s a pension of $63.5K per year. Pension income is not taxed by the state and now the cop can go work security somewhere on a contract. Both COLA and cap needed to be fixed, but money should have been found to pay for them.
- Horace - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 1:17 pm:
Some animals are more equal than others.
- Annon'in - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 1:38 pm:
Show of hands. WHo declared this pack major independent voices?
The Civic Federation, Commercial Club, Better Government Association, Chicago Tribune editorial board
- cal skinner - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 2:01 pm:
Perhaps Republicans don’t care if Chicago has more financial problems.
- Hawthorne Sheff - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 2:06 pm:
Lightfoot and Johnson administrations both had and have very bad records in Springfield. Both administrations couldn’t get anything done or stop any bills from passing. Hopefully the next mayor will have a better IGA team and better relationships in Springfield.
- low level - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 2:06 pm:
==Perhaps Republicans don’t care if Chicago has more financial problems.==
Do you not support Police and Firefighters, Cal? That’s not very conservative of you…
- TNR - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 2:09 pm:
== equalizing pensions was part of the deal that was cut to consolidate the local first responder pension funds ==
That was very much overlooked by the media and the social media outrage machine. The Tier 2 enhancements were given to police and fire in exchange for the consolidation. (The Chicago Police and Fire unions demanded to be included or they likely would have killed the consolidation bill.) JB was holding up his end of the bargain with his signature.
Perhaps the other public employee unions can figure out something they can “give” in other to “get” Tier 2 enhancements.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 2:09 pm:
===Perhaps Republicans don’t care if Chicago===
OK, now do every single Chicago legislator who voted, including Johnson’s allies.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 2:56 pm:
“Every single Illinois Freedom Caucus member”
On this one, good on the Freedom Caucus. Police and firefighters are frontline workers who risk their lives every day, they should get the best benefits and salaries possible. This has nothing to do with the need for police reform, but for a standard of care that a government provides for its first responders.
But there are so many others who do vital work, and they too deserve the best possible. That unfortunately is where the unanimity of support stops. Many got cut by DOGE, and they are going to get cut further. This hits GOP districts. That is a terrible thing, so many non-GOP would agree.
Does any Republican have the courage to put these workers over those who are taking away their livelihoods?
- Mason County - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 3:27 pm:
=This should not have been passed unless all other Tier 2 employees were included
Take it up with Council 31.=
Yes, the other unions, including those representing the universities should have been actively engaged. So the question is- were they and then ignored or were they drawing their paychecks without looking out for their members?
- Friendly Bob Adams - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 3:42 pm:
I know that teachers put a lot of effort into changing Tier 2 this year. I assume they will keep trying based on this precedent
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 4:07 pm:
@Mason County:
The unions have not been ignoring the issue. Far from it. AFSCME has put forward proposals and also tried to negotiate it in their last contract.
- Horace - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 4:18 pm:
There’s a reason police unions have survived half a century of union-busting. Don’t ever expect the enforcer class to have to sacrifice anything.
- RNUG - Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 5:55 pm:
== seem unfair that only first responders get this and not other Tier 2 state and local employees. ==
Life / Safety pensions have always had somewhat different terms than other employees.
- Steve Polite - Thursday, Aug 7, 25 @ 9:53 am:
“The unions have not been ignoring the issue.”
The We Are One coalition has been actively lobbying the general assembly to “Fix Tier 2″. Led by the Illinois AFL-CIO, We Are One Illinois is a coalition of unions representing active and retired public employees in Illinois.
“AFSCME has put forward proposals and also tried to negotiate it in their last contract.”
Yes, AFSCME, as part of the We Are One coalition, has lobbied the IL General Assembly for changes.
No, AFSCME did not try to negotiate it in our last contract. We can’t. Tier 2 is a legislative act and can only be changed through new legislation signed into law.