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Wednesday, March 13, 2013

UPDATE: Even the Trib calls it “fraud.” + North suburban retiree hell raisers. | Fred Klonsky

North suburban retiree hell raisers. | Fred Klonsky:



Even the Trib calls it “fraud.”

Focus_on_Fraud
Chicago Tribune editorial:
Monday’s humiliating accusation that state officials intentionally misled investors about a ruinous pension debacle easily justified the Tribune’s front-page headline: “Illinois is guilty of fraud, SEC says.” But that narrow accusation by the federal Securities and Exchange Commission underplays the far more damning tale that unfolds on page after page of the agency’s cease-and-desist order.
The order documents how Illinois politicians systematically have cheated public workers who trust in their pension system, investors buying bonds under false pretenses — and taxpayers left holding the bag for untold billions of dollars in unfunded pension obligations.
The SEC order details how, beginning 19 years ago, Illinois pols laid the foundation for today’s 


North suburban retiree hell raisers.

Following our planning meeting last week:
Skokie Area IEA-Retired Member: Great News!!
The kick-off meeting of our new Skokie IEA-Retired Hell Raisers Chapter will be:
• Wednesday, April 24th 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
• Skokie IEA Office – 8833 Gross Point Rd, Ste 300, Skokie
Large Conference Room
We can and will make a difference, and we need your help!
Come to the meeting for a TRS and legislative update and to reconnect with some of your retired colleagues.
We are making plans to pack a bus from Skokie headed for Springfield on May 15th for Lobby Day, and hope you can join us.
P.S. It doesn’t matter what region you were in as a teacher. If the Skokie office is close, if you are retired and want to be very active politically, we want you to join us, and we welcome your involvement.
We hope to see you on April 24th!
RSVP: kim.riley@ieanea.org by April 15th


Time running out on the million visits contest.

designall-dll
To celebrate one million site visits I am sponsoring a contest.
As of today, you have less than 25,000 site visits to go.
Submit a tweet, haiku or limerick on a topic covered by this blog.
The deadline is March 31 or the millionth visit.
The winner gets the orange t-shirt.
The decision of the judges (that’s me) is final.
Jean sent this haiku:
Biss, Nekritz, Gabel,
Cross, Quinn, Cullerton, Fahner,
 Madigan. All nuts.


New entry.


To celebrate one million site visits I am sponsoring a contest.
As of today, you have less than 24,000 site visits to go.
Submit a tweet, haiku or limerick on a topic covered by this blog.
The deadline is March 31 or the millionth visit.
The winner gets the orange t-shirt.
The decision of the judges (that’s me) is final.
From Jon Bauman:
There once was a fellow named Fred
Who wrote off the top of his head
But when he turned to pensions
He caused many tensions
Now some pols wish he was dead*
*all in jest of course.
Keep up the good work sir.
Congratulations on One Million!