Legislature Gets Retro
- A Cook County judge decided Thursday that Gov. Pat Quinn’s move to stop paying lawmakers was unconstitutional and ordered Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka to pay them immediately — plus interest.
Cook County Judge Neil H. Cohen ruled that Quinn violated the section of the Illinois Constitution that holds that state lawmakers’ salaries must not be changed during the term in which they were elected.
Quinn, who yanked lawmakers’ salary in a bid to leverage passage of stalled pension-reform legislation, said Thursday he would appeal and seek a stay of the judge’s decision.
Cohen, who surprised both sides of the dispute with his unannounced decision on the matter Thursday, could take up the question of a stay as early as Friday morning.
The ruling was a decisive legal setback for the governor. Cohen’s opinion, if upheld, would deprive Quinn of a key leverage point to hold over legislators’ heads to help broker a deal in Springfield’s long-running pension impasse.
Evidently, Madigan sent a letter.
Labels: state politics
posted by SCC at 12:02 AM
19 Comments:
This afternoon, Quinn said he would fight it.
Gimme a break. It's one thing to make a big, dramatic statement that you're 'really, really' tryin' to force those stubborn legislators to enact a bill.
It's a whole other thing to waste taxpayer money to engage in a major battle to deny these people their paychecks. Get back to BUSINESS, governor, instead of grandstanding.
Pensions are unsustainable in the modern economic world. Even more so when the government kills the jobs that pay the taxes to pay the pensions. Oh, mismanaging and/or robbing pensions plans doesn't help either.
I really liked "with interest". Tell you what, I'll take that deal. Hold my pay and then pay me interest bitches. The reason it's a joke is because these guys are mostly really well off, so their salary is pocket change.
How the fuck do these politicians get interest over a period of less than three months but CPD/CFD get no interest after contract negotiations--ever. When the city is owed money you got 30 days, 21 days, etc. then the fine doubles and you will pay. It's no wonder the city typically drags ass on the contracts. If the city was forced to pay interest or late fees after say 12 months their asses would be at that table every month until a settlement was reached.
So, the taxpayer gets stuck with the interest payments.....AND the taxpayer gets stuck paying the cost for the Gov to appeal the case in court. All the while he says we need to clear up the pension mess ????????
Good decision. Very good decision. One branch of government should not be able to hold another branch hostage unless Illinois is governed by a dictator.
This ruling should not be a shock to anyone with 4th Grade reading comprehension skills -- apparently something gov Potato-Head doesn't have -- as the Illinois Constitution is crystal clear on the matter. In addition to legal precedent from an IL Supreme Court decision from the last and only time a Gov tried this gimmick when Judges Paychecks were stopped and they sued and won.
So thanks to Potato-Head's media grandstanding ploy, not only will Taxpayers now have to pay INTEREST to the IL Gen Assembly, but all these additional lawyers fees too and the clock is still running on more since the mope intends to file a useless appeal.
Maybe Quinn would like to pay the Bill for all that, since he *feels* its the 'right thing' to do. Which by the way, is the whole problem with liberals, they don't think -- they feeeeel.
(fricken idiot, 'right' has nothing to do with it. it's the law and constitution. don't like it,amend it. until then, follow it)
There's a little bit of law that says that our pensions must be funded, and yet they just disregard that.
Interesting. If they just do the right thing and live up to their end of the agreement, there's no problem. But they don't want to pay into it because they don't want us to have a pension.
They do want themselves to have a pension, however. Remember that when you vote and tell your family and friends to remember it as well.
Unions have one bit leverage in contract negotiations: the ability to strike. By law, we don't, so the city has no need to negotiate in good faith in a timely fashion to settle. Since our retro has no interest, its all a winning proposition for the city.
I suggest that the union get a friendly legislator to introduce a bill that ties a fair level of interest to retro payments.
They get their retro but we don't get ours.
No keeses for them.
True story... Several years ago I was promoted to a D2 position. At which time my new title code was reflected on my A&A's and check stubs. After a few pay cycles, I asked why did my wages not increase? Could not get an answer. So I filed a grievance. Nearly (20) months after said grievance was filed, I received my back pay. To the penny with no interest or penalty to the city! Try that with your city sticker or water bill?
SECTION 11. COMPENSATION AND ALLOWANCES
A member shall receive a salary and allowances as
provided by law, but changes in the salary of a member shall
not take effect during the term for which he has been
elected.
(Source: Illinois Constitution.)
===============
Is delaying payment a "change" in their salary? It does not change the amount.
So many coppers are worried about pennies in retro, lets worry about the pensions,and healthcare all the dissension rahm just loves this nonsense! Was at the last meeting listening to all the cry babies and the fop goofs yelling at Shields like school girls! You want to run for the spots then "just do it," but stop being babies, "hey lets take it outside," what are you in high school kid? I thought CPD was professionals, if anyone has a mind we have not lost a cent yet! No harm yet! When and if that day comes then bitch and moan! The arbitrator will have the cards and will not tolerate rahm and his diabolical crews unsavory ways! So wait and then make this decision!
Well at least when we take the city and state to court over pension changes that are going to be unconstitutional we know the judges will have to side with us being tht it's in the constitution just like their salaries!
If they FOP really wants to do something get us interest on our NATO money. If the state legislature can get interest on retro why can't we?
What is the interest rate?
" The judges will side with us"? Who put the judges in their position? Madigan- Cullerton- Moreno - Daley- Guttierez. So these are the people who are going to side with "Us"?
Anonymous Anonymous said...
SECTION 11. COMPENSATION AND ALLOWANCES
A member shall receive a salary and allowances as
provided by law, but changes in the salary of a member shall
not take effect during the term for which he has been
elected.
(Source: Illinois Constitution.)
===============
Is delaying payment a "change" in their salary? It does not change the amount.
9/27/2013 11:26:00 AM
SHALL RECEIVE being the operative phrase. 'As provided by law' comes into play, too.
So, the governor can't just change the rules, the terms, the timing, or the amount because he wakes up one morning and just feels like it.
Heh... So if the legislature can invoke The Illinois Constitution as being inviolate regarding Gov. Potato-Head's gambit of witholding their pay, can The Police use that as precedent to keep their pensions uncut and unfucked with?
Just sayin'...
"NO NO NO, YOU GREEDY COPS! THAT'S DIFFERENT!"
Oh sure... Don't let a little thing like a rule/law not written for YOUR convenience get in the way of trying to change it after the fact.
Fucking hypocrites...
The thievery in this state and city is eye-watering in scale.
Pension divesture is the only way out for these pricks because any other way will involve giving a true bill of accounts which means a lot of members of the Illinois combine and Daley Inc./Rahm & Co. will be looking at the possibility of being criminally culpable.
That really says something when motherfuckers steal as much as these bastards have and they hold out hope of dying in soft, plush beds while listening to chamber music in order to beat a sure as shit-fire date with the hangman...
Heh... In the Middle Ages, they had a tradition of digging up rotten, thieving, no-good motherfuckers and hanging them post mortem while making their families watch when it was revealed that such egregious crimes were committed by the deceased.
We can see that happening in Illinois in the not too distant future...
Heh...
Not one single politician, past or present whose fingerprints are on this fuckery should be allowed to sleep easy.
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