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Cullerton says no cellphone while driving ban yet, wants new gaming talks

Wednesday, Jan 4, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* As mentioned below, Sen. John Cullerton held a press conference yesterday to announce that he was nominating Illinois Commerce Commission executive director Tim Anderson to be the new Secretary of the Senate. Reporters asked him several off-topic questions, including about the the National Transportation Safety Board’s urging of states to ban cellphone use while driving…

Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, who helped put Illinois’ first seatbelt law on the books in the early 1980s, said Tuesday he doesn’t disagree with a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation that states ban all cellphone use — including hands-free devices — while driving.

But he said he’s unsure Illinois lawmakers are yet ready to take that step.

“I don’t think there is the political support yet to pass that but I think it’s something that might be inevitable,” Cullerton told reporters. “It could be something down the line, but certainly not right away.”

* More…

It “might be inevitable” that Illinois eventually bans the use of cellular phones while people are in cars, Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said Tuesday.

However, Cullerton said it won’t happen immediately. […]

“These are the kinds of things you take incrementally,” he said. “I’ve kind of gotten away from being the main sponsor. … I think that’s something which I’ll leave to the other senators.”

* And via BlueRoomStream.com we have the video…

* Cullerton also answered questions about the stalled gaming bill…

Senate President John Cullerton said Tuesday that he expects lawmakers to take another run at gambling expansion in 2012.

Cullerton took questions from reporters about his legislative agenda at the state Capitol, where he was asked if a gambling plan that included slot machines at Arlington Park and new casinos in Lake County, Chicago and elsewhere was dead.

“No, not at all,” Cullerton said.

The powerful Chicago Democrat said Sen. Terry Link of Waukegan and Rep. Lou Lang of Skokie will have to work with Gov. Pat Quinn to forge a compromise this year.

As I’ve pointed out time and time again over the years, no gaming bill can pass without the governor’s involvement. Quinn either cut himself out or was cut out by legislators during the spring session and that was a big mistake. Then again, Quinn was AWOL last spring on everything. Maybe now he’ll engage.

* Other stuff…

* Hearing requested on Cellini state business

* State hires firm to run video poker monitoring system - Decision points to operations not being ready until near year’s end

* Are investors hungry for new Illinois debt?

* Economic recovery coming?

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Vaught, Cullerton outline some possible pension changes

Wednesday, Jan 4, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget director talked pensions with Doug Finke…

Quinn is also working to convene a work group to discuss ways of controlling soaring pension costs. The state’s pension costs are expected to increase by $1 billion in the next budget.

There is heated disagreement about whether benefits for current employees can be reduced. But, Vaught said, many attorneys believe that annual cost-of-living increases for pensioners could be reduced without violating the state constitution.

He also said more money could be put into the system from someplace other than the state. That could include higher employee contributions or “more from the real employers of our K-12 educators.”

“Three quarters of pension payment is for employees that are not state employees,” Vaught said. “You have a different employer negotiating pay and benefits, but then the state picks up the pension.”

Not including pension bond costs, Illinois will spend over $1.1 billion to fund the State Employees Retirement System next fiscal year. But it will spend $2.7 billion on the Teachers Retirement System and another $1.4 billion on the State Universities Retirement System. Pushing some of those costs down to local school districts and universities would be quite painful for those guys, but could potentially free up a huge amount of cash for Illinois’ budget.

And as far as COLAs and making employees pay more into the system are concerned, let’s go to the Illinois Constitution…

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.

* Meanwhile, Senate President John Cullerton said yesterday that he wants to look at different ways of getting pension costs under control…

Cullerton said the sort of reduction in pension benefits for current employees under the House bill is forbidden by the state constitution.

Cullerton, who also is eyeing changes in city of Chicago pensions, said he wants to work closely with unions to negotiate changes to the House plan. Cullerton suggested one path to a constitutional solution would be by following “basic contract law.”

“If there’s a reduction in the benefit, there has to be a corresponding consideration, and there has to be acceptance,” Cullerton said.

The Senate president’s comments come during an election year when runaway pension costs could be an issue used against candidates. It remains uncertain at best whether meaningful pension cost reforms could be negotiated in an election year. Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn has announced he would pull together a task force to look at solutions.

“We’re not going to be relying on the Quinn administration to come up with a pension proposal, but if they do, it’s all the better,” Cullerton said.

* Via BlueRoomStream.com, here’s the Cullerton video…

Thoughts?

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