Watch a brief video message from President Ken Swanson.
Illinois Education Association President Ken Swanson Wednesday blasted the Illinois House and Senate for passing a pension bill that reduces benefits for future participants in the state’s pension systems, including the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) and the State University Retirement System (SURS).
The passage of SB 1946 came over the objections of the entire Illinois labor community. The bill’s proponents claimed it was needed to protect the state’s bond rating which was endangered by the poor business practices of the General Assembly and past governors.
President Swanson called on Gov. Pat Quinn to veto the bill, but that seems unlikely since Quinn had raised the bond rating as a key issue.
Swanson pointed out that lawmakers will go on their spring break next week and he urged IEA members to contact them at their home offices and “Let them know how you feel about this pension bill.”
“Now that they have taken this action, they must act to address the revenue crisis in Illinois by passing a tax increase,” Swanson said.
“A one percent increase for education is not appropriate. This state’s problems, in education and human services, demand a more significant revenue bill, such as HB 174. That’s got to be the next step for this General Assembly and this governor,” he added.