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Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Teacher pensions and the two plans. « Fred Klonsky

Teacher pensions and the two plans. « Fred Klonsky:

Teacher pensions and the two plans.

The last session of the General Assembly there was just one plan for screwing teachers. That was Senate Bill 512. It was the brainchild of the Civic Committee, which is headed by millionaire corporate lawyer Ty Fahner. The plan was pushed by GOP House Leader Tom Cross and the Chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party who is also Speaker of the House, Michael Madigan. He of the special table at Saputo’s in Springfield.

SB512 would create a three-tier pension plan in which teachers would have to choose between a private plan, a reduced benefit plan or a more expensive plan. It is designed to bankrupt the TRS system, forcing it to be privatized altogether.

There were not enough votes in Madigan’s House to pass it. And the Democrats in the Senate, let by John