Brown and Zorn on pensions. The final exchange in which Zorn dismisses the constitution and shows he truly has a home at the Tribune. « Fred Klonsky

Brown and Zorn on pensions. The final exchange in which Zorn dismisses the constitution and shows he truly has a home at the Tribune. « Fred Klonsky:

Brown and Zorn on pensions. The final exchange in which Zorn dismisses the constitution and shows he truly has a home at the Tribune.

by Fred Klonsky

To Glen:

Discussing future pension obligations with you is like discussing proposed restrictions on gun rights with an NRA member: Every answer invokes the constitution – the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in their case, the pension clause in the Illinois Constitution in yours – and avoids the request for a common-sense analysis of compromise reforms.I asked what’s objectionable, morally or ethically, about the idea of honoring all pension obligations for past service, but renegotiating the future pension benefits that will be based on future service, much as salary and other terms of employment are renegotiated.  Your answer: The state constitution forbids it.I asked whether these pension deals were ever good deals for taxpayers – transparent, market