Reported here first. Springfield may vote to cut CPS pension contributions
As I reported here this morning, the final hours of the General Assembly may see a new attack on teacher pensions emerge. This time the target is the Chicago Teacher’s Pension Fund.
A source not only expressed concern about Senate Bill 1920, but also about the continued arrogance and hostility coming from the CPS board. There representatives reportedly walked away from the table in the middle of bargaining over board and teacher contributions to the fund.
Senate Bill 1920 would give CPS a $350 million pension holiday.
The CTPF reports:
A source not only expressed concern about Senate Bill 1920, but also about the continued arrogance and hostility coming from the CPS board. There representatives reportedly walked away from the table in the middle of bargaining over board and teacher contributions to the fund.
Senate Bill 1920 would give CPS a $350 million pension holiday.
The CTPF reports:
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Final day. Final calls.
Final day. Final calls.
I received notice that there is a bill, SB1920, that negatively impacts the pensions of Chicago teachers. The concern is that it may include a pension holiday for the city on pension payment obligations. I have been told by reliable sources that in talks between the city and representatives of the Chicago Teachers Union over how best to resolve pension cost issues of concern to both sides, the city walked away from the table.
When calling your House and Senate representatives mention your opposition to SB1920.
There is also concern with attempts to strong-arm the Senate into reconsidering SB1 again today. Call and thank those who voted no and affirm your view that SB1 is unconstitutional and a breach of contractual obligations to state employee pensions.
Third is SB2404. Please call your House representative and tell them that in spite of what they may have heard, public employees oppose SB2404.
And finally there is the cost shift. A bill was passed yesterday that shifted pension costs of public university and college to the schools. Some suspect this will lay the groundwork for a broader pension cost shift from the state to local school districts. When you call, tell them you oppose a pension cost shift.
Final day. Final calls.
I received notice that there is a bill, SB1920, that negatively impacts the pensions of Chicago teachers. The concern is that it may include a pension holiday for the city on pension payment obligations. I have been told by reliable sources that in talks between the city and representatives of the Chicago Teachers Union over how best to resolve pension cost issues of concern to both sides, the city walked away from the table.
When calling your House and Senate representatives mention your opposition to SB1920.
There is also concern with attempts to strong-arm the Senate into reconsidering SB1 again today. Call and thank those who voted no and affirm your view that SB1 is unconstitutional and a breach of contractual obligations to state employee pensions.
Third is SB2404. Please call your House representative and tell them that in spite of what they may have heard, public employees oppose SB2404.
And finally there is the cost shift. A bill was passed yesterday that shifted pension costs of public university and college to the schools. Some suspect this will lay the groundwork for a broader pension cost shift from the state to local school districts. When you call, tell them you oppose a pension cost shift.
If there ever was a reason for SB2404 (there wasn’t), there’s no reason for it now.
The We Are One/Cullerton pension bill, SB2404 can still happen if Speaker Madigan brings it to the House floor today.
The justification behind a bill that would create a choice under duress between a cost of living adjustment to retiree benefits and health care was that it provided an alternative to the Nekritz/Biss/Madigan bill that was even worse.
While this was an incredibly bone-headed move by the leadership of the state’s public employee unions, there is
The justification behind a bill that would create a choice under duress between a cost of living adjustment to retiree benefits and health care was that it provided an alternative to the Nekritz/Biss/Madigan bill that was even worse.
While this was an incredibly bone-headed move by the leadership of the state’s public employee unions, there is
Curriculum dialogue.
Thanks to John and Elizabeth and the Addison Public Library for inviting me to take part in a dialogue about the Persepolis Controversy last night.
It was a great evening.
Sandwiched between our conversation was a screenng of the award-winning animated film based on the graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi.
Persepolis only became controversial when CPS CEO Barabara Byrd-Bennett unilaterally banned it from CPS libraries, classrooms and from the hands of CPS students.
Our group at the library turned into an inter-generational conversation about the fundamental curricular questions:
Nekritz/Biss dies in the Illinois Senate. SB2404 on life support. One day to go. UPDATED.
At around 8PM last night the worst of the pension killing bills died in the Senate chamber of the Illinois Capitol building.
It died a brutal, bloody, decisive death.
It garnered only 16 votes.
42 Illinois senators voted for the Illinois Constitution and the contractual rights of public employees.
Senate President Cullerton voted for the bill, but that was only for show. He clearly had given his permission for