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* If it wasn’t already evident that the governor’s proposal to shift hundreds of millions of dollars of state pension costs to schools and universities was dead, it is pretty crystal clear now.
GOP Rep. Dave McSweeney’s HR27 declares “the opinion of the Illinois House of Representatives that the proposed educational pension cost shift from the State of Illinois to local school districts, community colleges, and institutions of higher education is financially wrong.” It now has 60 sponsors and co-sponsors…
Rep. David McSweeney - Sam Yingling - Jerry Costello, II - Jay Hoffman - Mary E. Flowers, Norine K. Hammond, Allen Skillicorn, Bill Mitchell, Linda Chapa LaVia, Cynthia Soto, Stephanie A. Kifowit, Sara Wojcicki Jimenez, Katie Stuart, Terri Bryant, LaToya Greenwood, Sue Scherer, Deb Conroy, David B. Reis, Natalie A. Manley, John Cavaletto, C.D. Davidsmeyer, Charles Meier, Randy E. Frese, Michael Halpin, John Connor, Emanuel Chris Welch, Anna Moeller, Tony McCombie, Will Guzzardi, Litesa E. Wallace, Peter Breen, Carol Ammons, Monica Bristow, Natalie Phelps Finnie, Kelly M. Burke, John M. Cabello, Daniel Swanson, Christine Winger, Luis Arroyo, Camille Y. Lilly, Mark Batinick, Jehan Gordon-Booth, Nick Sauer, Chad Hays, Lawrence Walsh, Jr., Steven A. Andersson, Thaddeus Jones, Barbara Wheeler, Jonathan Carroll, Steven Reick, David A. Welter, Joe Sosnowski, Dave Severin, Keith R. Wheeler, Lindsay Parkhurst, Brad Halbrook, Rita Mayfield, Arthur Turner, Marcus C. Evans, Jr. and Nicholas K Smith
That’s a pretty strong bipartisan list.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 3:55 pm
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Anther win for Rauner! He brought the Democrats and Republicans together yet again!
Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 3:58 pm
Time for another of Rauner’s goofy ‘deer in the headlights’ look.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 4:01 pm
Madigan!
Comment by The Way I See It Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 4:01 pm
Let’s stop.
Let’s stop for one minute.
Ready?
This is EXACTLY…
…like putting 60 members on the stairs.
This time it’s to embarrass Bruce Rauner.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 4:02 pm
This session has the potential to be real ugly for the Governor. Both sides are lining up against him. Do you think maybe they all feel he is a lame duck?
Comment by Retired Educator Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 4:02 pm
60? Wow. I think they should put it on the board and see if it can join the century club.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 4:04 pm
When Batinick, Breen, Chapa LaVia and Rita Mayfield co-sponsor a bill . . .
That’s Bi-Partisanship in action!
Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 4:04 pm
This looks like the IEA and McSweeney working together. Now that looks like an interesting marriage…..
Comment by One of Three Puppets Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 4:05 pm
Maybe Mark Batinick shouted to Will Guzzardi:
“Comrade! Tovarishch! We are one people!”
Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 4:06 pm
Not often you see Skillicorn and Guzzardi on the same bill… yeesh…
Comment by TKMH Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 4:06 pm
Yeah, must be some sinister plot to steal from the “taxpayer” again. /s
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 4:07 pm
Peter Breen and Will Guzzardi co-sponsoring the same resolution.
My work is done here.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 4:08 pm
“I applaud this action”
- Fake Bruce Rauner
All we need is the “it’s an up day” press pop.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 4:11 pm
Disappointed my rep is not on the list. A lot of retiring GOPers signed on. Will their replacements?
Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 4:12 pm
I never thought I would see those downstate members of the GA agreeing on anything. Bi-partisan indeed.
Comment by illini Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 4:12 pm
Won’t deter “Balanced Budget Bruce” one iota.
Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 4:13 pm
Shame, probably the best way to solve Illinois fiscal demise.
Comment by Ron Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 4:21 pm
Our kleptocracy at work
Comment by Ron Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 4:22 pm
Anyone think this will stop the Guv from campaigning on his “tax cut”?
He knew it never had a chance of passing. He just needed to say he proposed a tax cut.
Just like he vetoed the tax hike.
Comment by Henry Francis Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 4:26 pm
Continued fleecing of Illinois residents.
Comment by Ron Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 4:30 pm
Lots of levity here, but the fact remains that it was irresponsible of the state to assume teacher pensions in the first place. Of-course it is equally irresponsible to not adequately support local schools. Fix the latter issue first, then revisit the former.
Comment by Skirmisher Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 4:32 pm
Bastille Day is beginning to look a lot more appropriate to this governor with every passing day.
Comment by Whatever Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 4:36 pm
Looks like Jerry Long is still refusing to bite the hand that feeds him, I’m not surprised.
Comment by Seats Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 4:37 pm
Rauner’s cost-shift plan has hit the iceberg.
Comment by DuPage Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 4:41 pm
I’d like to think somewhere a bunch of the Superstars are looking at this and talking about how they woulda called this a “Sham” and…
Seems like 20 years ago.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 4:46 pm
Best news I’ve read in days.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 4:53 pm
Nice budget.
Comment by Blue dog dem Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 5:02 pm
So, in other words, for Rauner, today was basically an up?
Comment by Eric Zorn Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 5:14 pm
The kind of bipartisanship not seen since the Blagojevich era, or at least the end of it.
Comment by Leigh John-Ella Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 5:15 pm
So does this mean–Rauner and Madigan are working together too?
Comment by Leatherneck Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 5:33 pm
“Continued fleecing of Illinois residents.”
No, it is paying the people who have earned a pension what was promised and is owed to them.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 5:40 pm
“Continued fleecing of Illinois residents.”
So you are saying that teachers in the local school districts aren’t “Illinois residents”?
Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 5:41 pm
Several years ago, Madigan floated a pension-shifting bill that garnered nearly 100 no votes, but it was withdrawn for consideration. If Rauner had been less antagonistic to Madigan, the two of them might have been able to construct a cost shift of some type. Community colleges had even drafted some proposals that would have allowed that shift over a period of a few years back then. Though universities were looking at pension cost as a net diminishment of state funding. Higher ed had no idea just how diminished their funding could get.
Comment by My New Handle Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 5:44 pm
How about the Munis that created the massive obligations pay them?
Comment by Ron Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 6:01 pm
Skirmisher, it was irresponsible and borderline criminal the way school districts were throwing around end-of-career raises to dump their financial burden on the State. Don’t forget that little ploy.
Comment by Original Rambler Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 6:02 pm
No worries. Just bank the sale of the Thompson Center — again — but jack up the fantasy price to whatever is necessary to claim the fantasy billion dollar tax cut.
It’s not like Rauner has ever taken this stuff seriously. Why would he start now?
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 6:35 pm
===I t was irresponsible and borderline criminal the way school districts were throwing around end-of-career raises===
At the time, it was seen as a way to save the taxpayers money by moving higher salaries off the rolls. Unintended consequences, careful what you wish for, etc.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 6:37 pm
Combine the GOP members who bucked Rauner last summer on the budget and those now backing Ives, you can hold the House Rauner caucus in the proverbial phone booth.
It will be interesting to see who he can count on after the primary.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 6:44 pm
Ron
Aa a former Republican, I find your positions as a Democrat confusing. Usually Democrats embrace union members and middle class workers - both of which describe teachers and the majority of state workers. Democrats believe in everyone succeeding. Democrats believe in a secure retirement for everyone. You seem to believe in the crabs in a barrel theory. You know, the one where the crabs at the bottom keep preventing the other crabs from climbing out of the barrel.
Please explain to me why you hate people with a pension.
Comment by Thoughts Matter Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 6:47 pm
–Ron, Aa a former Republican, I find your positions as a Democrat confusing.–
LOL, it’s hard to find good trolls in St. Petersburg these days. Something gets lost in the translation.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 6:52 pm
== but the fact remains that it was irresponsible of the state to assume teacher pensions in the first place. ==
The thinking was why send the money to the school districts to have then turn around and send right back to the State.
The fallacy was the State didn’t put the money into the TRS fund.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 6:56 pm
== Several years ago, Madigan floated a pension-shifting bill that garnered nearly 100 no votes, but it was withdrawn for consideration. If Rauner had been less antagonistic to Madigan, the two of them might have been able to construct a cost shift of some type. ==
Exactly (exclamation mark). One more blown opportunity by Rauner.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 6:58 pm
–Exactly (exclamation mark). One more blown opportunity by Rauner.–
Meh, by now it must be clear that Rauner has no interest in the governing, just the self-promoting politics.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 7:01 pm
Rauner’s burnt toast.
Soon the General Assembly won’t even acknowledge Rauner, even when he is in the room.
Comment by Chicago 20 Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 7:19 pm
–Soon the General Assembly won’t even acknowledge Rauner, even when he is in the room.–
He’s still the bank for those who haven’t broken with him. They’re not raising real money from any other source.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 7:21 pm
Combine this with the poll numbers against JB and Biss from the Simon Institute today and you have Don Meredith singin “Turn out the lights…the party’s over…”
Comment by Saluki Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 7:28 pm
==It was irresponsible and borderline criminal the way school districts were throwing around end-of-career raises==
OK, I’ll buy that. But all Rauner’s proposal does is shift the costs of future earned benefits to the locals, so this old inequity will still be there. Anyway, this proposal does not save taxpayers a penny, it just shifts the burden around. If the state wanted to reduce the costs, and actually save taxpayers money, it would fund the pension funds so they could be fully invested and earn a return. Or do a Tier III, which is kinda wasted because Tier II already knocks the costs down about as far as can be done for teachers. Basically, this shift is a total non-solution.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 7:45 pm
7:45 was me.
Comment by Whatever Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 7:45 pm
Cue Rauner interview where he says he just has to try hard to get his message out.
Comment by Dr X Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 7:53 pm
Thoughts. Dems talk a good game when it comes to unions. They mostly let their wallets do the real talking.
Comment by Blue dog dem Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 7:53 pm
=They’re not raising real money from any other source.=
Isn’t tha the real rub for the ILGOP? If Rauner loses, he will likely take his money and go home and the ILGOP is no better off . And actually worse off given the only other big money is out there is way far right Uihlein via Proft.
I bet they didn’t see that coming.
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 8:44 pm
I love teachers, friends with quite a few. They are well compensated. They don’t need pensions. 401ks and Ssa would be great for them and private taxpayers.
Comment by Ron Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 9:04 pm
Teachers don’t need a union either. It’s just an incestuous kleptocracy between pols and public employees.
Comment by Ron Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 9:06 pm
No Avery?
Comment by Blago's Hare Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 9:08 pm
Thanks Blue Dog. I forgot about the fact that everyone votes to protect their own wallets first. The charity begins at home answer.
Word- I’m not from St. Petersburg. Just can’t type or proofread well on my phone.
I am glad to see bipartisanship for a change. That’s when things actually begin to be accomplished.
Comment by Thoughts Matter Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 9:08 pm
Ron, you apparently don’t realize that a “401ks and ssa” with a modest 3% employer match is more expensive than the employer normal cost of a state pension. I seriously doubt that any of your “well compensated” teacher “friends” would still be such after reading your “they don’t need pensions” screed.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 9:14 pm
–Word- I’m not from St. Petersburg. Just can’t type or proofread well on my phone.–
TM, I was referring to Ron.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 10:37 pm
Lots ganging up on Ron on this post. There are many of us who are worried about the underfunded pensions and the slow response to it. Not wanting to take anyone’s pension away. Do want our state to perform better.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 28, 18 @ 10:49 pm
And this is Madigan’s fault how …?
Comment by Bobby T Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 5:49 am
Word. Dont you ever sleep?
Comment by Blue dog dem Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 7:00 am
Madigan and Quinn floated the cost shift idea several years ago. I can’t believe the rank and file of both parties held on rejecting it.
No one that got past 3rd grade math disputes a 401k is better than defined benefit pensions. The challenge is shifting from one system to the other. We have constitutional/ legal obligations to the system. We must keep our end of this deal, but no one wants to talk about the real interim cost of that shift, because we know any new tax will just be stolen by Madigan again rather than for its purpose.
Comment by the Patriot Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 8:19 am
Patriot is spot on.
Comment by Ron Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 8:26 am
Patriot & Ron, there is no comparison between Madigan’s cost shift & Rauner’s proposed cost shift. The cost shift discussion is worth having but 25% a year for 4 years is way too steep, particularly for a governor who supposedly wants lower property taxes. So it’s disengious to say that Rauner’s cost shift should be supported because a different version passed the House in the past.
Comment by MyTwoCents Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 8:47 am
Word- thanks for the explanation. No worries, I have a healthy respect for your knowledge. I get a lot of info from the posts you do.
Comment by Thoughts Matter Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 9:04 am
Shifting the cost of pensions for school districts outside of Chicago to the State was part of a deal made between Democrat and Republican leaders when the previous school aid formula was established. The City of Chicago was the big winner at the time under that formula. To ameliorate the funding inequity, Republican leaders proposed that the State pick up the cost of teacher pensions. The Democrats agreed to it. This goes back to the days of Richard J. Daley.
Comment by GA Watcher Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 9:23 am