UPDATE: Today, the Illinois House is killing us + The battle is joined. Protesters gather in front of Board President Vitale’s home. | Fred Klonsky

The battle is joined. Protesters gather in front of Board President Vitale’s home. | Fred Klonsky:

Yesterday it was the Senate. Today, the Illinois House is killing us.

by Fred Klonsky

Chicago Sun-Times:

SPRINGFIELD-The Illinois House voted Thursday to limit compounding annual cost-of-living increases for state retirees in a constitutionally questionable move targeting the largest driver of the state’s $97 billion pension crisis.

The Senate-bound measure, sponsored by House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), passed the House on a 66-50 roll call and would affect current and retired state workers, university employees, legislators and downstate and suburban teachers. Judges weren’t included.

Under the measure, current and future public employees would have to wait until age 67 or five years after retirement to begin collecting retirement benefits. State employees” annual cost-of-living adjustments would be capped at the lesser of 3 percent or $750 per year.

“This single benefit is the most expensive single component of the pension 

The battle is joined. Protesters gather in front of Board President Vitale’s home.

by Fred Klonsky

As the names of schools to be closed are slowly released today by the Chicago board of education, protesters gather in front of board President David Vitale’s home. On Wednesday, thousands will meet at the Daley Center at 4PM. Many have been training for massive acts of non-violent civil disobedience to keep public schools open in all neighborhoods.