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Blame flies as pension plan stalls (Illinois' massively indebted system $96.8 billion in the hole)
Chicago Tribune ^ | 1/08/13 | Rick Pearson, Ray Long

Posted on 01/08/2013 4:32:38 PM PST by Libloather

**SNIP**

Others stood against any pension changes. Some who were willing to entertain a new approach criticized the proposal as too harsh on public employees and retirees. Still others contended the proposal violates a state constitutional prohibition on diminishing or impairing public employee pensions, as union officials have maintained.

Rep. Jim Durkin scoffed at the excuses for a lack of action, criticizing lawmakers who raised concerns that the pension bill might not be constitutional.

"I'm perplexed that members of the Legislature now have grave concerns regarding the constitutionality of the pension legislation when they've disregarded the constitutionality of every other bill we've passed in the last 20 years," said Durkin, R-Western Springs.

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: blame; chicago; corruption; democrats; illinois; pension; unions
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Some Democrats refused to commit to voting for the plan when they didn't know how many Republicans also were willing to stick out their necks.

Could be sleepin' with the fishes by morning.

1 posted on 01/08/2013 4:32:51 PM PST by Libloather
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To: Libloather

These folks could always move to California.... Not much over-sight in the Golden State either...


2 posted on 01/08/2013 4:44:47 PM PST by ptsal (E)
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To: Libloather

The Democrats are blaming flies for their inability to reform the pension system? It makes about as much sense as anything the Democraps in Illinois has done recently/


3 posted on 01/08/2013 4:48:02 PM PST by MIchaelTArchangel (Have a wonderful day!)
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To: Libloather
To just PLUG the hole it would be $7700 per person that lives in Illinois, with a population of 12.8 million people. And that's just to "fix it" one time.

I don't know about you, but my family doesn't have a spare $23K lying around so that Chicago Joe paper pusher can make payments on his BMW. When he retires at 50.

4 posted on 01/08/2013 4:49:55 PM PST by boop ("You don't look so bad, here's another")
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To: Libloather

The beast will weaken before long.


5 posted on 01/08/2013 5:03:33 PM PST by familyop (We Baby Boomers are croaking in an avalanche of rotten politics smelled around the planet.)
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To: Libloather
As ye sow, so shall ye reap.

Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch...

6 posted on 01/08/2013 5:08:46 PM PST by okie01 (The Mainstream Media: IGNORANCE ON PARADE)
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To: okie01
Obama to the rescue with his funny money.
7 posted on 01/08/2013 5:21:43 PM PST by kempo
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To: boop

True story. My mom had a part time job for the city of Chicago working at a senior citizen center handing out meals. She had the job about 20 years.
When she retired her retirement pay WAS LARGER THEN HER SALARY WHEN SHE WORKED. In addition she had free medical to supplement her Medicare , did not have to pay a penny for her health care.


8 posted on 01/08/2013 5:33:50 PM PST by Kozak (The Republic is dead. I do not owe what we have any loyalty, wealth or sympathy.)
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To: boop
"To just PLUG the hole it would be $7700 per person that lives in Illinois, with a population of 12.8 million people"

Simple math, there, but realizing how many are ALREADY on the public dole, work for government (I use the term "work" very loosely, there), and with probably 1/2 the population NOT paying taxes, it's more likely that those who actually PRODUCE and WORK and PAY TAXES will be on the hook for twice the amount you cite.

9 posted on 01/08/2013 5:38:36 PM PST by traditional1 (Amerika.....Providing public housing for the Mulatto Messiah)
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To: Libloather
The House idea is to freeze retirees' cost-of-living adjustments for six years, limit how much salary a pension can be based on and require workers to put more money toward their retirement.

This is just a start. Much more will be needed going forward.

Walker drove the point home when he held up a fistful of pink slips and warned that if pension reform wasn't passed, the slips would go out. The pile of pink slips that would be needed to make IL solvent would reach to the top of the Sears Tower.

10 posted on 01/08/2013 6:07:26 PM PST by randita
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To: Libloather

I am going to Vegas this weekend and will stop in Ceasar’s to see if they are making bets on which State Falls first, Illinois or California, they both seem to be in a full fledged all out Race to the Finish Line, BANKRUPTCY.


11 posted on 01/08/2013 7:13:09 PM PST by eyeamok
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To: Libloather
Some Democrats refused to commit to voting for the plan when they didn't know how many Republicans also were willing to stick out their necks.

All they can handle is gay marriage & Mexican driver licenses. The Illinois dems have a veto proof majority in the House & Senate. Don't have any idea when it comes to fiscal responsibility.

12 posted on 01/08/2013 7:28:45 PM PST by Western Phil
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To: eyeamok
...to see if they are making bets on which State Falls first, Illinois or California, they both seem to be in a full fledged all out Race to the Finish Line, BANKRUPTCY.

Bankruptcy law has no provision for states to declare bankruptcy. Municipalities and Counties, yes. But states? No.

However, there is some history here. In the early 1800s, states engaged in frantic canal-building and road-building programs, attempting to gain transportation leadership and thereby attracting businesses and population.

About half-a-dozen states went bust in the process and couldn't pay their bills. Not having access to the courts, the states had to sit down with their creditors and negotiate a payment plan. Further, they had to arrange their affairs so that they could meet the payments -- via increased taxes or reduced government spending (or both).

It took one state (Mississippi, I believe) thirty years to work their way out of debt.

Somehow, I can't see Jerry Brown poor-mouthing California's creditors...

13 posted on 01/08/2013 7:31:52 PM PST by okie01 (The Mainstream Media: IGNORANCE ON PARADE)
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To: okie01

Hmmm, well then it is plan B, No Legislative Body can be bound by the acts of a previous legislative body. VOID ALL CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS. Game over. For any Contract entered into by a Legislative body can be nullified by the next legislative body, and with the blessing of the Supreme Court.


14 posted on 01/08/2013 7:43:35 PM PST by eyeamok
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To: eyeamok
VOID ALL CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS. Game over.

Short of a federal bail-out, that is the most likely outcome.

The questions are: Which party is in power at the time? And will they have the courage to do what they must?

The vision of a Democrat governor having to tell the union bosses "TS" would be priceless.

15 posted on 01/08/2013 7:51:29 PM PST by okie01 (The Mainstream Media: IGNORANCE ON PARADE)
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To: eyeamok
For any Contract entered into by a Legislative body can be nullified by the next legislative body

Read that on the internet, did you?

There is a world of difference between saying that one session of the legislature cannot bind a subsequent one, and saying that the State cannot enter into a binding contract. The current session of the legislature may vote to sell bonds, and it is true that it cannot "force" a subsequent session of the legislature to appropriate money to pay those bonds. But it does not follow that it is a not default if the bonds are not paid. It most assuredly is.

16 posted on 01/08/2013 7:56:58 PM PST by Pilsner
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To: Libloather

This situation is a perfect case in point for why government employee unions must be busted to hell.

For decades the politicians, have met with in the smoke-filled back rooms with the union pinky rings and, with a wink and a nod, offered lavish pension plans and lifetime retirement bennies in lieu of the big pay raises that would have to be covered by immediate expenditures from THIS YEAR’s budget. It’s more convenient to add expenditures to FUTURE budgets and let future politicians and taxpayers deal with the mess.

That is, the politicians kicked the can down the road. “Future politicians and taxpayers can deal with the mess 20 or 30 years from now. It’ll be their problem.”, has been their slimy rationale.

Well, 20 or 30 years are over. Now what?

Scott Walker and some other governors had the guts to put their foot on the can and kick it back.
The cowardly Illinois politicians are not about to do that, so what will they do? What WILL they do?


17 posted on 01/08/2013 8:07:44 PM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: Lancey Howard

I am a State of Illinois Retiree. The State of Illinois has a clause in their constitution which prohibits the diminishment of pension benefits. Any law which the legislature passes which diminishes the promised benefit will be ruled unconstitutional by the Illinois Supreme Court. Even changing the constitution will not change promised benefits of current employees and retirees due to US contract law. It is very very hard to change the Illinois Consttution. States cannot file for bankruptcy. Pensioners have first claim on state taxes along with bondholders even if the retirement funds run out of money. Illinois cannot extract itself out of this without raising taxes.


18 posted on 01/08/2013 9:06:43 PM PST by vitaman (Illinois is screwed)
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To: vitaman

Additionally, Illinois is viewed as a low tax state. Look it up. Illinois income permanent tax rate is 3%. Illinois has the lowest per capita number of state employees in all fifty states. They do not tax pensions 401Ks or any services like haircuts or video rentals. Food is taxed at 1%. Currently Illinois has a temp income tax of an extra 2% which is due to expire next year I think.


19 posted on 01/08/2013 9:16:14 PM PST by vitaman (Illinois is screwed)
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To: Lancey Howard
the purpose of all govt entities seems to be simply to make enough money to pay and service govt employees....nothing much is actually productive at all...

govt IS NOT servicing the public....

20 posted on 01/08/2013 9:56:44 PM PST by cherry
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