This is as good a place as any for me to express my dissatisfaction w/ Pritzker for signing IMO a horribly irresponsible piece of legislation.
As you may be aware, Illinois and Chicago have some of the worst unfunded pension liabilities in the nation. Several years back, attempts were made to address this by providing newly hired police and firefighters lower benefits. Sure, disadvantages those folk compared to their more senior, but IMO something had to be done.
Well, the state just passed legislation at the last minute with minimal discussion, raising benefits for newer “tier 2” employees. Pritzker signed it with zero explanation. So now I suppose Chicago will go to the state demanding assistance with this unfunded mandate?
Not the first time Pritzker has failed to take a challenging fiscally responsible stance.
Sure. That is one way of looking at it. Better to spend money we don’t have and have no plans how to get.
Not sure if you are from Illinois/Chicago. Not sure if you realize how bad Illinois’ pension debt is.
Nor is Chicago especially flush.
Meanwhile, the Dems hold supermajorities in the statehouse, the governorship, both senatorial seats, Chicago mayor and council, and 14 of 17 US Reps. Not sure how critical it was to pander to cops and firefighters.
That legislation was passed with significant majorities. He had little choice but to sign it. Dont blame the Governor for a bill passed by the legislature.
It’s quite the innocence to think that fiscal realities matter to the electorate. Imagine running for president on the “I vetoed pensions for police and firefighters” platform. Because that’s what they’d be doing.
I live in a 95% white “police town” that leans blue (57% Harris) but ANY sign you don’t support the police 1000% will cause fire to rain on your head from the vast majority of residents.
Isn’t it possible for him to refuse to sign it and force them to override his veto. And, taking a step back from that, would it not be possible for him to exert his influence over members of his own party WRT the legislation they bring? I saw no sign of him even attempting to do so.
So, we are just buying into the Trump reality that words and symbols are all that matter, whether or not they reflect reality?
And never get elected again? For something the People want? Just because some Op-Ed article says it is a bad idea? The people wanted it, the police wanted it, the firefighters wanted it, and the legislators wanted it. Vetoing it would be political suicide.
Selling people on fiscal responsibility is hard. Walter Mondale tried it when he said, “Let’s tell the truth. Mr. Reagan will raise taxes, and so will I. He won’t tell you. I just did.” He got clobbered for it.
OK. As a lifelong Illinoisian who has seen my state’s financial position just getting worse and worse, I will reiterate that I was expressing “my disappointment” at something that “IMO” was a very bad and avoidable step.
So, if we aren’t going to reduce pension obligations, I suppose folk will gleefully support the candidate who proposes massive tax increases and spending cuts to fund those pension obligations.
