End Legislative Pensions?
Here's an idea in the Tribune editorial section - where have we heard it before?
- Illinois lawmakers are busy* this summer.
(*Campaigning, golfing, fundraising.)
The House and Senate adjourned in May and won't reconvene until Nov. 19, the start of the fall veto session.
We don't know whether the Illinois Supreme Court by then will have ruled on the pension reform law making its way through the courts. Gov. Pat Quinn in December signed into law pension changes for state workers, teachers outside Chicago, university employees and General Assembly members. The law immediately faced a court challenge from organized labor, putting a projected $145 billion in taxpayer savings on hold.
Regardless of whether the Supreme Court rules this fall, lawmakers can and should take additional steps to curb future pension costs. Remember: While we wait for the courts to rule, the liabilities in all of the pension funds continue to climb precipitously.
So, lawmakers, go first. Pass legislation ending General Assembly pensions going forward for all new members.
So far, everyone is expected to bleed - except the jackasses working a part-time gig for somewhere around 60 days a year for a sweet 85% pension after a mere four years of service.
Labels: corruption
posted by SCC at 12:02 AM
32 Comments:
It's ridiculous what Illinois state reps and senators make. They make about $67,000 a year with full pension and healthcare You know what state reps and senators here in Montana make? They make $87-$100 a day....and that is only when the legislature is in session! In Idaho, state reps and senators make $16,000 a year. In Indiana, they make about $20,000 a year. These are just a few examples. There are many more.
No wonder Illinois is broke!
You think you have it bad in Illinois, in Texas the lawmakers only meet for six months every two years. If they don't get laws passed in that brief time, than they have to wait another two years.
State legislators don't qualify for a pension generally until they have 10 years of service. I don't know what the percentage is, but I'm sure of the ten years part.
In any case they shouldn't get a pension at all. Let them pay social security.
State legislators don't qualify for a pension generally until they have 10 years of service. I don't know what the percentage is, but I'm sure of the ten years part.
In any case they shouldn't get a pension at all. Let them pay social security.
+++++
Did you even read the article? It says right in it that they get a pension after 4 years.
Reading is a skill brainiac - learn it.
The Madigan-Cullerton-Quinn death spiral continues.
A possible theory is that the more you pay them, the less they have to steal. Not working.
As far as the "pension crisis" it'll be solved the same way all previous ones were solved, i.e. Civil War vets, WWI vets etc.
Nice work if you can find it.
If new hires for cpd dont get a pension who pays for those already vested?
It's ridiculous what Illinois state reps and senators make. They make about $67,000 a year with full pension and healthcare
HEY! Don't look here! Look over there! At the greedy police. The greedy police start off making just over $43,000/yr. Have a probationary period of 18 months, during which time they can be fired if they so much as fart at the wrong time. They won't get their D.A. pay (now, with the new contract) until they put 3.5 years on the job. And while it's true that they are able to retire at the age of 50, with at least 20 years of service, they will walk away with a 50% pension! Talk about a sweet deal!
You know what state reps and senators here in Montana make? They make $87-$100 a day....and that is only when the legislature is in session! In Idaho, state reps and senators make $16,000 a year. In Indiana, they make about $20,000 a year. These are just a few examples. There are many more.
No wonder Illinois is broke!
No, NO, NO! How many times do I have to say it? DON'T LOOK HERE. LOOK OVER THERE!
Like I have said many times before. Take my pension I and I guarantee you will not like the way I act!
Dick Durban "the Turban" disclosed his reelection income tax that he and his wife received 25,000 each from Social Security and he made contributions to his pension plan and IRA and he is currently collecting his Senate paycheck and his wife makes 130,000 a year as a lobbyist not bad for a part time job either.
Should Senators get a pension? How about Social Security?
Only the low employee working 40 hours a week gets his / her social security cut because of a public pension.
Wishful thinking
We definitely have to put this out there for everyone to see, why can't our FOP spend a little money for a commercial or ad about this proposal? If no one speaks up, they will only continue there dirty little ways and protecting there sweet deals. EVERYONE has to pay, so if they want to end our pensions or cut them, then they must start with there's!!
This is where it has to begin. NO PENSIONS FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS, PERIOD!
That will end lifetime elected crony politicians. Get a real job, earn a living, and then serve the public. Which was the way it was meant to be.
This would be a great start. Next, cap their salaries and staff expenditures, and limit their contact with lobbyists.
An article published on the web For The Good of Illinois states the legislators pension is funded by an 82 % contribution by the state.
Chicago Tribune May 25, 2012 Emil Jones pension $122k, based on 85 % after 20 yrs and 3% BONE US for every year thereafter (16), a $41k bonus only available to legislators
From the state GARS website:
"You may retire:
• At age 55 with 8 years of credited service.
• At age 62 with 4 years of credited service.
3.0% for the first 4 years of service
3.5% for the next 2 years of service
4.0% for the next 2 years of service
4.5% for the next 4 years of service
5.0% for each year after 12 years"
Alderman think they are on the same ground as congress they should work minimal hours and get top health care days off and outlandish pay for what being community leaders in a failing city with a failing school district a undermanned police dept. outsiders in top spots who do not belong there a mayors position that can't be re-called this is bullshit change has to happen or goodbye Chicago.
As everyone knows, DemoncRATS love screaming and whining about *LOOPHOLES* and how they should all be closed, right?
Well...here's a giant fucking LOOPHOLE in the IL Legislature's Pension system. Take a wild ass guess who took advantage of it....(tick toc, tick toc)....YEP.... you got it: Shortshanks! Chicago's very own esteemed mayor -- and all around swell guy -- Richard M. Daley, whom last I read about, will never need a goddamn Tag Day held for him.
The Chicago Tribune outed Richie's slick maneuver to enrich himself back on on May 02, 2012...
+++++How Daley beefed up his pension payouts+++++
---Former mayor took advantage of state's convoluted system---
'Two years into his reign as Chicago's longest-serving mayor, Richard M. Daley took advantage of the state's convoluted pension system to significantly increase his potential payout while saving $400,000 in contributions, a Tribune/WGN-TV investigation has found.
Daley, a former state senator, made it happen by briefly rejoining the legislative pension plan in 1991. He stayed there just one month before returning to Chicago's municipal pension fund, but the switches made him eligible for benefits worth 85 percent of his mayoral salary — a better rate than all other city employees receive.
He was just 49 years old at the time. Even if Daley had never won another election, he could have started collecting a public pension at age 55 of $97,750 a year. Without the steps he took, his public pension benefits at that age would have been worth just $20,686.
~~~~~~~~~~ snip ~~~~~~~~~~
The Tribune and WGN-TV already have detailed how Daley used the city's pension funds for political purposes. In 1991, the same year he secured his much larger pension, Daley's administration helped aldermen land a dramatic pension increase, providing them with benefits far exceeding those of the average city worker.
The same legislation, rushed through the General Assembly on the last day of the session, also gave private labor leaders public pensions based on their much higher union salaries. Under Daley's watch, former Chicago Federation of Labor President Dennis Gannon was given a one-day city job that allowed him to collect a public pension based on his $200,000 private union salary. ~~/snip (more at link)
Daley wasn't alone with this pocket lining ploy, read the full article.
What other part time job in this state gets a pension? Politicians are a bunch of damn thieves.
It will never happen, they above the law.
term limits & ZERO pension for any elected official is the ticket to progress out of the muck 'n mire 'n slime.
'nother good idea - 60 day legislative session per year, not one day more.
When they work over 60 daya what do you think they're doing? Nothing good that's for sure, just hacking schemes & figuring out new techniques of oppression.
Every state that has a full time legislature is a disaster & they only know how to dig the hole deeper
Correct me if I'm wrong but they are on a 6 MONTH'S FUCKING BREAK!!!? They get a full pension while fucking over mine which doesn't even come close to theirs!!? WTF.
In regards to the money issue:
http://politics.suntimes.com/article/chicago/back-pay-chicago-police-officers-could-cost-65-million/tue-09092014-357pm
"“We haven’t borrowed for contracts settled under his watch. We’ve paid for it with current cash. These are short-term operating expenses for four or five years. He doesn’t want to be borrowing money for 30 years.…That’s part of his approach to financial management.”"
I guess we are not broke if we have cash laying around?
"What other part time job in this state gets a pension?"
CFD.
Anonymous said...
You think you have it bad in Illinois, in Texas the lawmakers only meet for six months every two years. If they don't get laws passed in that brief time, than they have to wait another two years.
9/09/2014 12:37:00 AM
That would be great for Illinois! Whenever Madigan and the crooks are at work they do the most damage. We need them to stay home more often.
How come the media isn't calling the politicians out with their fat cat infalted salaries and pensions? Lets hear it! Time for truth. What's fair is fair. They hardly work for what they get.
What about racist hater congressman Danny Davis who has a black panther leader painted on his office building sponsors rap videos on his property. When are the feds going to take him down ?
How about Jessie Jackson Jr. Getting 8,000 a month while sitting in the federal pen!
Where did he get the funds to pay off his fine?
Did he claim the gift on his income tax?
Did the doner pay the federal gift tax on the money?
IRS where are you now?
Afraid of Jessie Sr. The king of extorsion!
The press can always test the " part time job description" anytime that they want. We have police officers, usually assigned to detached services, who are state elected officials who must take leave from the department to do legislative work. Just check on how many days they actually take off without pay and if they are actually doing legislative work or drinking in bars on Oakley Avenue ?
Anonymous said...
What other part time job in this state gets a pension? Politicians are a bunch of damn thieves.
9/09/2014 10:35:00 AM
Actually there are many. Instructors at colleges and universities, all part-time qualify for a state pension and free health care for life after only five years as a part time teacher. They have to wait until age 60 to start, but it is there.
Post a Comment
<< Home