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Monday, January 9, 2017

Illinois public employee union strategy to fight for pensions: Members should “do nothing” and let Madigan be our goalie. | Fred Klonsky

Illinois public employee union strategy to fight for pensions: Members should “do nothing” and let Madigan be our goalie. | Fred Klonsky:

Illinois public employee union strategy to fight for pensions: Members should “do nothing” and let Madigan be our goalie.

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On Saturday I wrote about the discussions among Democrats and Rauner’s legislative leaders for a grand bargain to resolve the state budget stalemate.
The agreement includes six points taken from Rauner’s Turnaround Agenda. 
· Imposing term limits on legislative leaders
· Increasing the state individual income tax to 4.9 percent
· Adding a statewide beverage tax on sugary drinks
· Changing Worker’s Compensation benefits
· Temporarily freezing property tax rates
· Pension reductions for active employees
A freeze on property tax rates would be devastating to local school districts.
Pension reductions?
Well, you know.
An email* from Illinois Education Association director of government relations Jim Reed to local leaders lays out what the state union coalition response appears to be.
The items with the most direct impact on education and education employees are the proposals for a two-year property tax freeze, proposed changes in workers’ compensation and pension reform.