* Frankly, I’m surprised that 26 percent were unsure after the way this poll, conducted for the Illinois Policy Institute, posed the questions…

Poll of 800 Illinois voters from March 27-29 when asked which statement they agree with more, even if one isn’t exactly right.

Raise taxes or reduce state spending on higher education, public safety, and social services to fully fund the state’s pension obligations to government workers. (18.0%)

Amend the state constitution to preserve retirement benefits already earned by public employees and retirees, but also allow a reduction in the benefits earned in the future by employees and allow for slower growth in retirees’ future benefits. (56.0%)

Pensions make up about 20 percent of state spending, and have for a number of years, and the same level is projected for the future. That’s high, no doubt about it, but it’s manageable, even with fiscal bumps along the road.

Also, it takes 60 percent or a majority of those voting in an election to pass a constitutional amendment. And even with this highly biased question, they could only get to 56? Not great. And even if three fifths of both chambers of the General Assembly somehow decided to vote to put this the ballot (zero chance), the unions would spend big bucks to tear IPI’s arguments apart.

* Not to mention that a poll taken for IPI last year used a much more neutral question and yet their issue still managed to score higher than this year’s totally lopsided poll…

Some have proposed a constitutional amendment that would preserve public retirement benefits already earned, but would allow for changes to future pension benefits. Do you support or oppose this constitutional amendment?

Support: 61%
Oppose: 28%
Don’t know/Refused: 11%

The trend ain’t their friend.