(Part 2) Attack on Teacher Pensions: IRTA Sues for Rights – Sarasota, FL meeting update
The attendee questions answered by President Bob Pinkerton, Executive Director Jim Bachman and IRTA Lobbyist Andrew Bodewes at the Feb. 5 meeting revealed both what the teacher retirees were concerned about and where the Illinois Retired Teachers Association was headed with its lawsuit to protect pensions.
Since a few attendees still sought for and believed the pension information printed by the Tribune Company and its affiliated radio and TV stations via their Media Services Syndicate, those attendees needed to be reminded that Illinois is NOT broke. Legislators annually give away to multinational corporations double the amount owed to state retirement funds.
(All of the following responses to questions are paraphrased.)
(All of the following responses to questions are paraphrased.)
“What does IRTA say should be cut rather than our pensions?”Jim answered: Some legislators ask me the same thing. That’s the wrong question for us. Legislators are elected to handle the budget. Suggesting that IRTA wants to take money from children, the mentally ill or big contracts awarded by certain legislators is misleading and disingenuous. The state of Illinois owes teacher retirees the money. The state needs to