The in box. Making constitutional what is unconstitutional. « Fred Klonsky

The in box. Making constitutional what is unconstitutional. « Fred Klonsky:

The in box. Making constitutional what is unconstitutional.

by Fred Klonsky

Fred,
At the core of the most recent pension reform proposal is a Draconian choice between retaining current COLA benefits in TRS and remaining in the health insurance program (TRIP). Its authors say that since TRIP is not a constitutionally guaranteed benefit, it can be ended by legislation. But the proposals do not end TRIP. The insurance program continues. The only thing changed is who gets the benefits.
For many years all Illinois public school teachers have been required to pay a portion of their salaries into the TRIP fund. From a contractual perspective, can they be forced to give up the health insurance they paid for in order to get the pension rights the Constitution promised them?
There are now two groups associated with TRIP. Active teachers pay out of each paycheck with a contractual understanding that they will receive the insurance benefits when they retire. Members of the second group are retired and now receive TRIP benefits.
Far from eliminating TRIP, the proposal only splits these two groups further. There will be two