Rauner offers CPS $200 million in pension help — with a catch
Gov. Bruce Rauner on Monday offered up $200 million in state aid to offset Chicago Public Schools’ pension costs but said it would come only as part of a comprehensive school reform package that includes allowing the city and local towns to opt out of collective bargaining.
“We’re willing right now to bring pension parity for the Chicago Public School system,” Rauner said at a news conference at the Thompson Center. Rauner put that support at $200 million a year.
As part of the legislation, Rauner proposed putting into law a sticking point between Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Teachers Union — asking teachers to pick up the entirety of the government’s contribution to pensions. CTU President Karen Lewis has said that change amounts to pay cut.
Rauner blamed House Speaker Mike Madigan for not allowing a vote on any of the six reform bills that the governor put forward in the waning days of the Spring session.
“We’re calling on Speaker Madigan: please call this bill and debate this bill,” Rauner said, noting that Madigan has taken pieces of Rauner’s bills and called for votes but not for a vote on the entire package.
“This act basically brings together components of the various bills that we’ve proposed,” Rauner said.
“It’s a property tax freeze for the entire state of Illinois,” Rauner said. “The General Assembly has already indicated their willing to pass a property tax freeze.”
Rauner said the proposed bill would increase overall state support for low-income school districts.Rauner offers CPS $200 million in pension help — with a catch | Chicago:
