©2011 Galesburg Broadcasting Co.
| Moffitt Explains Pension Reform "No" Vote |
FIRST REPORTED: 12:00pm 3/29/10 A local lawmaker wasn't in the majority when he voted against pension reforms that went quickly through the Illinois General Assembly last week -- and he says that was part of the problem.
74th District State Representative Don Moffitt says it's not that he doesn't think reforming the state pension system isn't needed. But he says now is not the time to essentially ram it through the legislature. He says the proposals that, among other things, increased the state retirement age and changed other pension eligibility rules, were taken through committee, then brought to votes in the House and Senate in a span of 10 hours last Wednesday.
Moffitt tells WGIL's "Galesburg Live" in a time when government operations are under scrutiny, that's bad politics.
"It wasn't open; it wasn't transparent; it wasn't announced ahead of time," Moffitt said. "No attempt was made to sit down with any of the stakeholders. Whether you're for or against it, you shouldn't be afraid to let the stakeholders be at the table and talk about it."
The Gilson Republican tells WGIL there's one other problem he has with the legislation that, he says, hasn't gotten a lot of publicity.
"This will obligate the state for a future bailout for the Chicago Public Teachers Pension System," Moffitt said. "It's going to allow them to take a pension holiday for three years up in Chicago, to the tune of $400 million per year."
Moffitt says a pension holiday is what got the state into its own financial mess to begin with.
The measure awaits Governor Pat Quinn's signature. Other Republicans including State Senator Dale Risinger voted "yes." |
|
| 03 29 10 by Newsroom |
Click here for the WGIL News Archive
Click here for national news
The following provision applies to all visitors (which shall include persons and representatives of legal entities, whether such representatives are persons or digital engines of a kind that crawls, indexes, scrapes, copies, stores or transmits digital content). By accessing this Web site or digital service, you specifically acknowledge and agree that: (i) Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium; (ii) No Associated Press materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use; (iii) The Associated Press will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing; (iv) The Associated Press is an intended third party beneficiary of these terms and conditions and it may exercise all rights and remedies available to it; and (v) The Associated Press reserves the right to audit possible unauthorized commercial use of AP materials or any portion thereof at any time.
