Good News on the Pension Front
- The Illinois Supreme Court ruled today that subsidized health care premiums for retired state employees are protected under the Illinois Constitution, signaling potential trouble for an overhaul of pension benefits that’s also being challenged in court.
Today’s ruling also could affect the city of Chicago’s ongoing phase-out of retiree health insurance subsidies, a program Mayor Rahm Emanuel was counting on to save millions of dollars a year, as well as legislation recently approved to modify the pension plans of city workers and laborers.
The 6-1 decision centers around a 2012 law that allowed the state to charge retired workers for health care insurance premiums, which many did not have to pay depending on how long they worked for the state.
Retired workers sued, arguing the changes violated a provision in the state constitution that declares pension benefits “shall not be diminished or impaired.” Attorneys for the state argued the constitution did not specifically declare health care benefits were protected.
Rahm is fighting a system that was set in concrete long before he pretended to move out of Chicago and then suddenly rediscovered some lost women's clothes that allowed him an opening. We'll read more into the decision in the coming days, but it appears to be a foundation for maintaining benefits as promised years ago.
Labels: pension
posted by SCC at 12:03 AM
64 Comments:
Retirees had to sue right? Now is the state going to pay their lawyers fees? They should.
Yahoo...we don't want Obamacare which the City decided we are going to be provided decided from our original contract.
Long live our original contract payout.
But can the city and taxpayers afford this largess.
Muni employees, Chicago Police Officers and Chicago Fire Department Officers are hopeful they will be able to retain the health insurance they have paid into for decades in many instances and to not be forced into Obamacare...scary Obamacare!!! God bless the Illinois Supreme Court. We will gladly pay the premium for our steadfast Blue Cross/Blue Shield or the various other insurances that City Employees have paid into for many years....Hallelujah!!!!
Rahm makes me ill.
And Anne Burke dissented.
The Supreme Court just bitch slapped Rahm and his ilk.....Priceless!
The only dissenting vote came from Anne Burke.
Surprise, surprise.
I was shocked--shocked, I say, that the lone dissenter was Justice Anne BURKE,, the spouse of 14th Ward Ald. Edward Burke.
To the bitter end, despite being up in age and perhaps compromised health, the Burke's remained true believers and warriors for the cause. They felt no need to gain karma points for once, being at the end of their careers and perhaps lives, to do what's right. Even though every other judge did the right thing, Ed's influence had his wife emerge as the solo dissenter. Nice try but epic fail. I don't wish bad on anyone but everyone will have to answer to a higher power. I'm glad I'm not either of you.
Anne Burke dissented! The woman of the man many bellowed, he still looks out for coppers. Not much of a MAN if he can't keep his old lady in line.
Anne Burke...... Did all you Burke lovers expect her to act differently?
Hey 12:48......
Go fuck yourself.
Can the city afford rampant contract corruption?
Can the city afford to educate, feed, and provide healthcare for millions of illegal invaders?
Can the taxpayers afford $250,000 medical bills every time dude shoots dude?
"But can the city and taxpayers afford this largess.
7/04/2014 12:48:00 AM"
It is NOT largess. It is a benefit promised when the employees were hired. The city has tried and tried again to renig on this and other promises it made. It is not the fault of the workers and they should not be punished for the city's fiscal irresponsibility. It is purely the fault of the city for squandering the taxpayer's money and the fault of the taxpayers themselves for continuing to elect the politicians who put the city in this mess despite repeated warnings by the employees.
Rahm could simply cut the bloated CHA $810 million budget in order to pay police pensions.
Simple solution!
The rationale to cut CHA is that unless your elderly or truly disabled NO able bodied person should live rent free !!
If you have a problem with CHA being cut then either get a job, or leave the city!
Pay up! This July 4th Holiday will be a real celebration of independence day and the honoring of the Illinois constitution regarding my EARNED pension benefits including health care. Retired ISP. God bless my brothers in blue too for this ruling should apply equally to all jurisdictions trying to wiggle out of their promised obligations.
What will be the cost to retirees? The city can charge anything. Cost has gone up each year.
It was proper for Anne Burke to dissent from the vote. I have a suddend feeling that my ulcer is heeling. Happy Independence Day.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
But can the city and taxpayers afford this largess.
7/04/2014 12:48:00 AM
you mean, can the city stop the corruption, free tax giveaways and the corporate welfare programs, correct?
Any business that strongarms the taxpaying populace with "we'll only show up in your town and give you pissant low wage jobs if all of you pad our profit margins with your tax money" should be ignored and shit upon my EVERY town and city in this country.
Fuck the greedy shitheads bleeding our tax coffers dry and putting the entire burden on the working man's shoulders.
These corporate fuckers have been pushing their fucking con job on the entire country and their bullshit has to be stopped now.
Can't afford legally defined and constitutionally protected benefits for low rung employees but CAN afford free water, no taxes, tax GIVEBACKS and FREE MONEY TO BUILD a profit maker?
Fuck you, the party's over. Pay the fuck what you owe scumbags.
What do you mean can the cities and State "afford it?"
We pay taxes on every damn thing we purchase,use,rent,own.
For the idiots that think the State or city is broke,
Read the news.
Do you not read how the city and state have money for their favorite projects? Let me list a few....arenas,bike lanes, airports, parks, etc.
They just refuse to fund the things they don't want...like Pension contributions, raises, benefits,etc.
Mismanagemt and their own personal agendas are what the problems are....trying to stay in power and be re-elected.
Give the PD, FD and other city/county employees Obamacare, just like everyone else gets. We are all going to be on a single national healthcare plan in a couple of years anyway.
I was shocked--shocked, I say, that the lone dissenter was Justice Anne BURKE,, the spouse of 14th Ward Ald. Edward Burke.
Sun Times) Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke, a Roman Catholic who says she doesn’t feel “my faith interferes with my judicial responsibilities,” has become the first member of the state’s high court to officiate at same-sex marriages
Lisa list both of her cases before the court yesterday. Chuckle.
You have to wonder how many employees of the city’s Park District, Laborer’s and tradesmen, and municipal employee’s unions are now going to court and sue both the City and their unions to get back benefits negotiated away without their consent. In our case the FOP bargained for the 55 and out premium free health care. The Sgt.’s, Lt.’s and Capt.’s all got that benefit along with the firemen under the me too clause. Then they all gave it away. You have to wonder how all of the aforementioned union rank and file members now feel about their leaders who all bent over and grabbed their ankles.
FOP will not be painted into a corner at arbitration now because of this SC decision. Rahm has to be mf-ing this decision. Now a casino will go to our pension fund and not to Rahm’s donors.
Could everyone who reads this blog please post any and all capital improvement projects that Rahm has announced - i.e De Paul on the same day he said no more retiree healthcare. I would like to keep a running total of how much he has spent on b.s.
Rollo Tomasi
Anonymous said...
But can the city and taxpayers afford this largess.
7/04/2014 12:48:00 AM
Though the worthiness of the projects or benefits the citizens of Chicago received can be argued ad infinitum, the fact remains that our stolen pension monies were spent on them.
So, now it's simple. Pay them back. I don't care what cuts need to be made or what taxes need to be increased. Raid the bullshit TIF monies that benefit inside big business. Tighten the fucking belt and pay our pension obligations back. You know, our money that was stolen in the 1st place. Whatever it takes, pay it back! Capiche?
Anonymous said...
Retirees had to sue right? Now is the state going to pay their lawyers fees? They should.
7/04/2014 12:18:00 AM
Speaking of lawyer fees the attorney representing the retirees is Clint Krislov.Look up online articles.He seems legitimately out for retirees best interest.I sent off a check for a small amount a while back to help out with the costs of a lengthy legal battle.Everyone wants to eventually retire without the city screwing you on the way out.
I read the whole decision. It's 30 pages.
The statute saying the state would pay for healthcare for retirees (on a graduated scale, if you had 20 years in the state would pay 100%), was on the books even prior to the pension protection clause of the il Constitution. Alaska made the same call, healthcare was tied in to pension benefits. New York made the opposite call.
But can the city and taxpayers afford this largess.
Yes
Go figure, a Court that believes (6-1) that the Constitution means what it says.
I don't have a dog in this Pension fight. My only issue is with the idiot Libtard CommieRat Politicians who've infested every level of government, and how they always, and I mean always, address an issue that arises with a constitution, to wit:
----- Instead of following the proper procedure and amending a constitution, they pass some asinine law(s) on that subject, then sit back and hope they find a friendly judge to rule in their favor when they're sued. In this case it's Pensions delineated in our IL constitution, and all Madigan and his cabal of flying pet monkeys had to do in order to properly -- Constitutionally -- address the issue was amend the Illinois Constitution per Article XIV, Section 2, Clauses (a), (b), and (c) of the IL Constitution.
It's not that complicated of a process and if the pensions are as fucked up as it's said they are, it should be easy to get done, especially for Madigan. Plus it's boat loads cheaper than a constitutional convention which Gov Potato-Head wanted, the asshole. -----
}}}}} an aside: It's thanks to this 'Pass a Law M.O.' of the Libtard CommieRats that have those 20,000+ f--king Firearm Laws -- all INFRINGING on our Right as delineated in the Second Amendment. Shit, if the 2A was and is so hated like they say, getting rid of it by Amendment Process should be a no brainer for the gun-grabbers, right? :-) {{{{{
But can the city and taxpayers afford this largess.
7/04/2014 12:48:00 AM
Yes. There is plenty of money to pay for pensions and retiree healthcare. All the pols have to do is stop subsidizing the illegals and the generations of folks (and peoples) who refuse to work. They can also stop paying for silly shit like Maggie Daley park and a new DePaul stadium. We need fiscally responsible politicians in office who treat the public treasury like the money was coming out of their own pockets.
Anonymous said...
But can the city and taxpayers afford this largess.
7/04/2014 12:48:00 AM
Yes the city can afford this but it needs to stop some of the social programs for people who have never worked a day in their lives.
The city also needs to tap into the billions in the TIF funds.
The city claims that the law states that they can't use the TIF funds for other then what they were intended but then tries to change the State Constitution that protects the pension benefits.
If this is upheld the pension will eventually go bust. The public will have no sympathy because the average Joe pays more in FICA for what, a chance to eat catfood. Sorry but 80% (or around that number)never was feasible long term. Never. As a public eployee myself I made sure I heavily invested in my deferred comp, like the rest of the working world. I would rather they rework the pension even if I have to pay a little more, work a little longer, or get a little less. In order to get something even remotely liveable. We should get on the bus before we're under it. And if you think that somehow they system will change and the corruption (which is the true financial blackhole)stops, you've been smoking the glass dick.
Thank God.
I can leave in 6 months now, instead of 5 years.
1 dissenting SCJ...Anne Burke, go figger!
his says it all. Finally someone understands and got it right.
UPDATE on Illinois Retiree Healthcare Court Ruling
From Forbes; Good for us, bad for Illinois taxpayers and politicians who must now figure out how to pay for their mistakes and corruption when they gutted the pension funds to use for their own agendas.
This will be good for Teachers, Police and Firemen who paid their share.
Before everyone gets carried away, wait for the ruling concerning the pension changes themselves.
Justice Ann Burke is just another arrogant connected slob who has no skin in the game. Her husband Eddie now has prostate cancer but he also has a five star policy with the city that pays everything. Besides being a multi-millionaire because of his connections as a city alderman puts him in a separate class from the rest of us working peons. Every thinking person knows Obama Care is a disaster that will be shitcaned by a Republican Congress next year because our president won't be able to stop them. Democrats used to be the party of the working class. Now Democrats are the party of lazy shiftless takers and con artist. Can't wait for election night in November. It's gone be a blast!
7/04/2014 02:37:00 PM is absolutely right. A constitutional guarantee doesn't mean shit unless the constitution starts printing money on its own.
To those who say "just raise taxes" look to a formerly large city about a three hour drive east of here for an example of what that would do.
Next you might say "cut waste and fraud in the budget" and I would agree that this is a good idea. But this is Illinois, thus it will never happen unless we somehow come across some honest politicians. Given that Chicago has never not been corrupt at any point in the city's history I don't suddenly see that changing now.
Unions best negotiate some reasonable pension cuts before terms get imposed by multiple bankruptcy judges as Illinois cities start going the way of Detroit.
If this is upheld? This was a Supreme Court ruling. It's over. The state has plenty of money, it just spends it on the wrong things. End the so called entitlements. The only entitlements are the ones that people earned and paid into, like social security and veterans benefits.
Anonymous said...
But can the city and taxpayers afford this largess.
7/04/2014 12:48:00 AM
LARGESS??? No, I paid for it based on their promise. Then the democrats lied and misappropriated our money. Time to pay up
If this is upheld the pension will eventually go bust. The public will have no sympathy because the average Joe pays more in FICA for what, a chance to eat catfood. Sorry but 80% (or around that number)never was feasible long term. Never. As a public eployee myself I made sure I heavily invested in my deferred comp, like the rest of the working world. I would rather they rework the pension even if I have to pay a little more, work a little longer, or get a little less. In order to get something even remotely liveable. We should get on the bus before we're under it. And if you think that somehow they system will change and the corruption (which is the true financial blackhole)stops, you've been smoking the glass dick
Bullshit, the pension will not go bust. SB3538 has mandated city payments that require the pension to be 90% funded by 2040. Its a done deal .all the city has to do is put in their share which they havent been doing for 25 years and dont want to now. And goofs like you want to take less and have officers pay more. Let the city pay their share and yea it may raise property taxes but the CPS havent had problems raising their tax levy every year to the max allowed by law. They also get over 50% of the taxes the city 18% so the rise in taxes will be substantially smaller.
You have to wonder how many employees of the city’s Park District, Laborer’s and tradesmen, and municipal employee’s unions are now going to court and sue both the City and their unions to get back benefits negotiated away without their consent. In our case the FOP bargained for the 55 and out premium free health care. The Sgt.’s, Lt.’s and Capt.’s all got that benefit along with the firemen under the me too clause. Then they all gave it away. You have to wonder how all of the aforementioned union rank and file members now feel about their leaders who all bent over and grabbed their ankles.
How can you go to court and sue for something negotiated away. Thats what negotiations are you give and you take. Without their consent. Where is that coming from. When FOP negotiated a contract BEFORE the contract was ratified, the members voted on it. Where are you getting this "without their consent" TRhe members always vote on a before it is ratified. Only time they dont vote is when an arbitrator makes the decision and its called binding arbitration. Where do you come up with this shit
Wow I cannot believe how many people do not realize that the State is pretty much broke. Promises are made to be broken.
Ask your relatives in the private sector, about the pension/retirement benefits they had when first hired and now.
People are fleeing Illinois due to the heavy tax burden, this ruling will increase the exodus.
>>>Anonymous said...
Give the PD, FD and other city/county employees Obamacare, just like everyone else gets. We are all going to be on a single national healthcare plan in a couple of years anyway.
7/04/2014 09:54:00 AM<<<
You mean just like Congressmen and Senators.
To: "Annoymous said...
...Unions best negotiate some reasonable pension cuts before terms get imposed by multiple bankruptcy judges as Illinois cities start going the way of Detroit.
7/04/2014 07:37:00 PM"
Are you one of Rahm's trolls?
I can tell you are neither a cop nor a union member.
Stay off of our blog.
Write for lamestream media.
Promises are made to be broken? A pension, is a contract, not a promise. When contracts are broken, somebody gets sued. People fleeing Illinois? Illinois has had a small gain in population, per the census bureau. Illinois, has one of the highest incomes per capita, in the country. End the so called entitlements, and we'll be just fine.
Wow I cannot believe how many people do not realize that the State is pretty much broke. Promises are made to be broken.
Promises are made to be broken? So everything in the state constitution is written in there to be broken. Interesting concept.
++7/04/2014 10:37:00 PM ++
Thanks Jimmy, If I can call you Jimmy like Rahm did in your press conference together.
I hope you enjoy your 40 pieces of silver when you go to work for Streets and Sanitation.
Unions best negotiate some reasonable pension cuts before terms get imposed by multiple bankruptcy judges as Illinois cities start going the way of Detroit.
That would embarass the pols all the way up to the POTUS. Ain't gonna happen
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Wow I cannot believe how many people do not realize that the State is pretty much broke. Promises are made to be broken.
Ask your relatives in the private sector, about the pension/retirement benefits they had when first hired and now.
People are fleeing Illinois due to the heavy tax burden, this ruling will increase the exodus.
7/05/2014 03:05:00 AM
No, promises are not made to be broken. Contractual guarantees (not promises) have to be honored. The City and State can do without yet another new program or wait another year to build the Bloomingdale Trail or hold off on some boondoggle construction project for awhile.
Note that I used the word 'honor'. It's also part of the word 'honorable'. You have lost sight of that. Some of us actually believe in it.
A few things:
1) I agree that you should get what you were promised, and it's financial mismanagement that led to this.
2) A big fuck you to the people who said it's the taxpayers fault for this. No seriously - fuck you. I pay a shitton in taxes and consistently vote out these assholes but you can't win. This is hardly my fault. Instead, I pay tons in taxes with seemingly little to no benefits from it.
3) Raise taxes and the people who can leave will leave. NW Indiana and Wisconsin look that much better than Illinois. The people who will leave have skills in demand and the salary to match. Raise taxes? Lower tax revenue.
All this does is step on the gas on the car as we head towards that cliff.
Anonymous said...
Justice Ann Burke is just another arrogant connected slob who has no skin in the game. Her husband Eddie now has prostate cancer but he also has a five star policy with the city that pays everything. Besides being a multi-millionaire because of his connections as a city alderman puts him in a separate class from the rest of us working peons. Every thinking person knows Obama Care is a disaster that will be shitcaned by a Republican Congress next year because our president won't be able to stop them. Democrats used to be the party of the working class. Now Democrats are the party of lazy shiftless takers and con artist. Can't wait for election night in November. It's gone be a blast!
7/04/2014 07:14:00 PM
Anne Burke is a political parasite hack piece of shit. Her husband controls her vote on important stuff like this. The lone dissenting vote. What does that tell you? Ed and his vermin associates have been a cancer on our beloved city for a long time so it is only fitting for the "chairman" to also now be so afflicted.
This town needs an enema!
"Largess"?????? The total contribution by the City to my retired CPD husband's health care premium is $95 a month. $95. Yep. Total BC/BS premium for the two of us? Close to $1000 a month before I went on Medicare. A $95 largesse. Yep. After Old Man Daley promised him he'd "never have to worry about health care."
Anonymous said...
Wow I cannot believe how many people do not realize that the State is pretty much broke. Promises are made to be broken.
Ask your relatives in the private sector, about the pension/retirement benefits they had when first hired and now.
People are fleeing Illinois due to the heavy tax burden, this ruling will increase the exodus.
7/05/2014 03:05:00 AM
Well stated. Too many people posting are ignoring reality. What happens when the only people left in Illinois are public employees? What happens first the constitution is amended or the city and/or state goes bankrupt?
The promised pensions are not sustainable.
thank you and fuck ed and Ann Burke 14 th. Ward
Gov Quinn has said that he wants to tax the retirees who are collecting a pension. Currently, Illinois does not tax pensions.
CPD and CFD should file a FOI as to $$ spent on schools to educate illegals , to provide breakfast ,lunch,snacks to cps students . Parents receive $ to feed these kids on link . End air conditioning in schools . Reduce number of alder creatures to 16 . Fine these illegal vendors , they pay nada in tax to city ,state or Feds . How many of homicide victims still on link ,welfare . Cease fire funds to pay off gangs for votes .time to March on city hall .
Well stated. Too many people posting are ignoring reality. What happens when the only people left in Illinois are public employees? What happens first the constitution is amended or the city and/or state goes bankrupt?
The promised pensions are not sustainable.
7/05/2014 11:21:00 PM
Sure they are, as long as they're fully funded so they can attain the necessary amount of investment interest income.
Ed & Anne Burke, they revile me. He, the author and scion of all things Chicago, and police related is a scumbag.He claimed to be one of us - he put on the bag for a few years before assuming Dad's spot on the City Counsel.Old Anne got her law degree and was immediatly seated as a judge...wow, where was the BGA outrage then!These people care noting for you. Keep up the good fight, don't let the parasites infect us all.
The ONLY commentator with a brain is the one who said this:
-------------------------
"If this is upheld the pension will eventually go bust. The public will have no sympathy because the average Joe pays more in FICA for what, a chance to eat catfood. Sorry but 80% (or around that number)never was feasible long term. Never. As a public eployee myself I made sure I heavily invested in my deferred comp, like the rest of the working world. I would rather they rework the pension even if I have to pay a little more, work a little longer, or get a little less. In order to get something even remotely liveable. We should get on the bus before we're under it. "
As even FD and stated, unions don't belong in government. Without moderating market forces public employee unions rage unrestrained and now have vastly better pay and pensions than their private sector counterparts.
Gloat while you can. Bankruptcy trumps even a "contract" as Detroit found out. Unions are fine in the private sector, but have NO place in government.
So the IL SC says "Union cronies who work all their life in the union and then get a ONE DAY CITY JOB" can now get a lifetime pension paid by the city based on the time spent in the union and how much they were paid in the union. Six figures!
Sorry---meant lost.
Post a Comment
<< Home