Legislative Update: October 28, 2011

10/28/2011

The two-week Illinois General Assembly veto session started on Tuesday with all of labor trying to kill the pension-cutting bill that IFT members helped stop last spring.

School Funding
Numerous education advocacy organizations joined IFT in opposing HB 3793/SB 2073, which would have a devastating impact on school children throughout Illinois. 

Tell Lawmakers to Vote NO on HB 3793 Today!

Pensions
The We Are One Illinois coalition revived ads previously run during the spring legislative session and thousands of union members rallied outside the capitol building Wednesday to protest Senate Bill 512.

IFT opposes SB 512 because:

• The legislation forces IFT members to choose to either drastically
   increase their contributions, opt into the second tier plan or transfer
   to a defined contribution plan, essentially creating a three-tiered system.
• It is unconstitutional.
• IFT members do not receive Social Security, so their pensions are
  their life savings.
• IFT members have always paid their share of retirement costs; it is the
  state that has not kept its end of the bargain.
• SB 512 would cost taxpayers an additional $34 billion over 15 years.

Take Action
• IFT members are urged to contact legislators at their district offices
   between now and November 8, when lawmakers return to Springfield
   for the last session days of 2011.  Make an appointment for a one-on-one
   meeting, send an e-mail or call them and leave a message.

More information is available on the IFT Web site.

Two additional pension bills were also introduced:

IFT supports HB 3815 because:

HB 3815 legislation would restrict future employees from having their public pension based upon years of service working for a union while providing clear constitutional reform.

IFT opposes HB 3813 because:

HB 3813 would freeze current employees salaries at the rate they received when they began employment with a union while allowing for the accumulation of service credit. IFT opposes the legislation because it applies to current teachers and is clearly unconstitutional.




Budget

Lawmakers took no action on reallocating money in the state budget to prevent layoffs and facility closures. They will be negotiating budget issues during the legislature’s one-week layoff and are expected to act on those proposals when they return on November 8.

A Look Ahead
The 2011 veto session will conclude on November 10. Until that time, it is important that IFT members remain vigilant against new pension attacks and other harmful legislation.

All members are encouraged to check your inbox for “Action Alerts,” visit the IFT Web site “Action Center” and check the online “Legislative Update” for the latest legislative action campaigns and information.