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Daily Facts
Editorial: Dear President Cullerton, Gov. Quinn needs you. We all do.
Chicago Tribune – May 21, 2013
All in cordial terms, Illinois Senate President John Cullerton. Notice the comma, rather than a colon, in our salutation. This is a personal note, just between us. Nobody else needs to know about it.
Gov. Pat Quinn met Monday with the Tribune editorial board, primarily to talk with us about Illinois’ crying — all right, shrieking — need for public pension reform. We talked about your chamber’s bill, the one the public employees unions helped write, the one you say could save the state $46 billion over the next 30 years. We also talked about the bill the House has passed and sent to you, the one that instead would save the state $150 billion.
Quinn optimistic pension reform will happen by month’s end
WLS – May 20, 2013
(CHICAGO) Governor Pat Quinn said in Chicago Monday morning that he’s optimistic the legislature will send him a comprehensive pension reform bill by the end of the month. He was making news on several other bills too.
At the City Club, Quinn said he knows the votes are there in the Ill. House to pass what he calls “marriage equality.” Speaker Mike Madigan doesn’t think so yet. When asked if he’ll sign the medical marijuana bill, Quinn said he thinks he can resolve it and more forward on it. And on a Chicago casino, he said the latest bill needs to be strengthened.
Quinn: Chance to make history on pension, same-sex marriage issues
State Journal-Register – May 20, 2013
CHICAGO — Gov. Pat Quinn says Illinois has a chance to make history before the end of the legislative session this month on the issues of pension reform and same-sex marriage.
The Chicago Democrat said Monday that he wants lawmakers to approve an overhaul of the state’s nearly $100 billion pension crisis by the end of the month and send it to his desk.
Madigan, Cullerton dig in deeper in pension standoff
Crain’s – May 20, 2013
With fewer than two weeks to go before the Legislature’s scheduled adjournment at the end of May, there’s no sign of a breakthrough yet in the Democratic logjam over pension reform for state and local government workers.
The core problem remains competing plans offered by Senate President John Cullerton and House Speaker Michael Madigan — both of whom lead strong Democratic majorities. In separate statements today, representatives of the two leaders seemed, if anything, to stiffen their positions.
State workers anxious as lawmakers debate pensions
Daily Herald – May 19, 2013
SPRINGFIELD, — An Illinois agency manager might have to delay retirement. A former university secretary wonders if she’ll have to cancel vacations. A state office assistant fears he won’t be able to afford the medical care his wife needs.
Anxiety and anger are growing among state employees and retirees who wonder what will happen to their pocketbooks if lawmakers make expected changes to the state’s pension systems that could require workers to pay even more toward retirement, increase the retirement age and cut annual increases in benefits.
Michael Carrigan: Union compromise on Cullerton pension bill is fragile
State Journal-Register – May 18, 2013
On a range of issues, our state faces tough problems that can only be solved by stakeholders and elected officials working together. The new pension reform legislation, Senate Bill 2404, shows the way.
Madigan says universities, community colleges willing to share pension costs
Chicago Tribune – May 17, 2013
SPRINGFIELD — House Speaker Michael Madigan on Thursday announced that he has struck a preliminary deal with the state’s universities and community colleges that will require them to slowly pick up the cost of teacher pensions over several years even as tuition rates continue to rise.
College officials support shifting pension costs to universities
Bloomington Pantagraph – May 16, 2013
SPRINGFIELD — University and community college officials expressed support Thursday for a plan that would shift the cost of employee pensions their way.
In a hearing at the Capitol, higher education leaders told lawmakers that they agreed to a plan pushed by House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, that would gradually shift the cost of pensions beginning in fiscal year 2015.
Under that plan, the universities would pay an additional half of 1 percent of retirement costs per year until the full cost has been transferred.
Watchdog group says state must address pensions
NWI Politics – May 14, 2013
CHICAGO | Gov. Pat Quinn’s proposed state budget is a baby step in the right direction, a watchdog group’s analysis said Monday, but the governor may be overstating savings from a recent union contract negotiation and not putting enough toward roughly $9 billion unpaid bills.
Report: State finances are of ‘grave concern’
Peoria Journal Star – May 14, 2013
CHICAGO — Gov. Pat Quinn’s proposed state budget is a baby step in the right direction, a watchdog group’s analysis said Monday, but the governor may be overstating savings from a recent union contract negotiation and not putting enough toward roughly $9 billion in unpaid bills.
All told, the Civic Federation said, it mostly illustrates how Illinois lawmakers must come up with a solution for a worst-in-the-nation pension crisis.