Tired of hearing about IL pension news? Me too. Too bad. We have four more days to drive a stake into this sucker.
Liberal north shore Democrat, Dan Bliss, voted present.
As I reported earlier, Representative Bliss voted “present” today. He’s a member of the House committee on pensions. What the hell?
Bliss is a liberal Democrat from Skokie.
You might want to make some calls to Dan.
Springfield Office:
280-S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-4194
(217) 558-3740 FAX
District Office:
3706 Dempster Street
Skokie, IL 60076
(847) 568-1250
(847) 568-1256 FAX
Cook County
Email: RepBiss@gmail.com
Did you know that the IEA gave $60,000 to Tom Cross’ election campaign fund? Cross is the pension bill’s main sponsor.
Since the bill came out of committee today, it will be voted on by the entire Illinois House of Representatives tomorrow, Friday. Call 1 888 412 6570. Say “I strongly urge you to vote no on Senate Bill 512. I strongly urge you to reject any reduction in benefits in increases in costs to teachers in the retirement plan.”
Then call again.
Here’s something you may not know about the Cross/Madigan plan.
Tier 1 members will have a choice every 3 years as to whether or not they will stay in their current plan. The member contribution will increase from one election period to the next. So the cost of staying in Tier 1 will become more and more expensive until the Tier 1 member will not be able to afford the plan. Members who fail to elect will default into Tier 2. Current Tier 2 members can elect to participate in the defined contribution plan.
This means that if you stay in the present TRS plan, pay the added almost 5%, your contribution will most certainly go up in three years. You will never be able to make long-range financial plans about your retirement contribution.
We are on it in Park Ridge. Tuesday morning I met with several dozen teachers at Lincoln Middle School to answer questions about the present crisis. This morning dozen gathered at Roosevelt, cell phones in hand, and made calls together. Meanwhile I went over to the Emerson LRC and I kept looking over as I talked and more and more folks came into the room. Field Elementary tomorrow.
The good side of this is that never have teachers in our schools been more aware of the details of their retirement plan. It’s been a wake-up call, as my friend Matthew said. There’s nothing like fighting for something to make you aware of how valuable it is.
And then I have wondered why we can’t seem to get many, many more of the good folks who have fought along with us on issues like standardized testing, NCLB and Race to the Top, to now speak up and join us in our defense of our pensions and bargaining rights?
Just wondering, is all.
