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Fate uncertain for CPS pension payment delay

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Illinois

* The Tribune looks at the bill to postpone today’s mandated CPS $634 million pension payment for 40 days…

Rauner last week vetoed the majority of a Democrat-passed state spending plan, the exception being a portion that funnels money to elementary and high schools.

Those state aid payments are scheduled to go out Aug. 10, and the pension delay proposal would postpone the massive payment until the same date. The idea was to buy the city some time to cobble together enough money for the payment — an effort that would be helped by the infusion of state dollars — while a broader pension overhaul is worked out.

Such a measure needs 71 votes to pass, which is the same number of Democrats in the chamber. Just 37 voted in favor last time amid opposition from some who didn’t want to be viewed as voting for a pension holiday and others who didn’t want to bow to Emanuel.

Complicating things are questions about whether Rauner has pulled his support from the bill. While he backed the measure last week, he’s since floated an alternative. Under that plan, the state would give CPS an upfront payment of $450 million in grant money that’s normally distributed over the course of the year. The mayor’s office rejected that idea Monday.

16 Republicans voted for the pension delay bill the last time around. But if Rauner bricks that thing, then most of those HGOPs will back away.

We’ll know soon enough.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 30, 15 @ 9:28 am

Comments

Anyone else still worry Speaker Madigan may brick the thing because he doesn’t like being left out?

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Jun 30, 15 @ 9:34 am
Math is math is math…

Unless MJM is working votes, why wouldn’t Rauner put a brick on it? It was never going to get 47 GOP votes, it’s just fun to tweak ownership while involved in an end-around.

I’m sure everyone trusts everyone about now too.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jun 30, 15 @ 9:43 am
Rahm wants to kick the can down the road his way, not Rauners. Rejecting Rauner’s offer doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.

Comment by Lil Squeezy Tuesday, Jun 30, 15 @ 9:49 am
Actually it is fair to say Bobblehead nodded “yes” on the bill on several days, not the entire week, thus the challenge to work a roll call. We are sure TeamBungle will have an explanation. Don’t be surprised if there are a lot whiplash reports trying to folo this one.

Comment by Anonin' Tuesday, Jun 30, 15 @ 10:43 am
Let CPS falter. Chicago made the mess now let them clean it up!! Springfield should not bail them out!!

Comment by Union Man Tuesday, Jun 30, 15 @ 4:28 pm
Illinois without Chicago is a poor dump.

Comment by Tone Tuesday, Jun 30, 15 @ 6:20 pm