LASALLE COUNTY RTA LEGISLATIVE REPORT February 27, 2017 Ed Wollet, IRTA Legislative Committee Chair
WHAT’S THE HANG UP IN ILLINOIS? Friday February 24, 2017 Report to the House Finance Committee Moody’s Analytics told state representatives Illinois outlook not great; Illinois has a debt problem Illinois has comparable taxes to and is as business friendly as surrounding states UNCERTAINITY is the cause for outmigration and reason cited by companies not locating here Separate political agenda from budget
18 HOUSE BILLS 32 SENATE BILLS PENSION LEGISLATION 18 HOUSE BILLS 32 SENATE BILLS
PENSION MATH ILLINOIS POLITICIANS ILLIIINOIS POLITICIANS
PENSION LEGISLATION TAX CURRENT PENSIONS “CONSIDERATION” BUY OUT (401k plan) SHIFT PENSION COSTS TO LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALLOW MUNICIPAL PENSION BANKRUPTCY ELIMINATE PENSIONS FOR POLITICIANS REAMORTIZE PENSION DEBT
WHAT STOPS THEM? IRTA & THE PENSION PROTECTION CLAUSE FO THE ILLINOIS CONSTITUTION SB 1 FOUND UNCONSTITUTIONAL IN 2015 BY UNANIMOUS OPINION OF THE ISC Article XIII, Section V of the Illinois Constitution, Pension and Retirement Rights…“Membership in any pension or retirement system of the State, any unit of local government or school district, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, shall be an enforceable contractual relationship, the benefits of which shall not be diminished or impaired.”
WHAT’S THE GOOD NEWS!!! PA 099-0682… IRTA supported law allows survivors to reinstate pension benefits
WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH HEALTH INSURANCE Gov. Rauner zeroed out funding for TRIP Retiree health insurance plans are currently funded through a continuing appropriation and should continue to be funded. There are a few ways this can change…
OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIODS TRIP INSURANCE STANDARD TRIP ENROLLMENT: MAY 1 – MAY 31 MEDICARE ADVANTAGE (TRAIL): October 14 – Novmeber 15
WHAT CAN WE DO?
IT ALL STARTS WITH YOU…
SUPPORT IRTAPAC MISSION DEFEND RETIREE PENSIONS OPPOSE LEGISLATION THAT THREATENS RETIREE PENSIONS, HEALTHCARE BENEFITS, OR TAXES RETIREE PENSIONS “Pension reform is one of the three major issues — along with workers' compensation changes and ‘local control’ — that have to be addressed before I consider any budget.” (Gov Bruce Rauner 2016)
STAY TUNED IN IRTA WEBSITE (irtaonline.org) FOLLOW IRTA ON FACEBOOK FOLLOW IRTA ON TWITTER
REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM Grassroots Campaigning + SUPPORT IRTAPAC + Maintain a Legislative Presence
STAY IN TOUCH WITH Senator Sue Rezin Representative Jerry Long Representative David Welter
STAY TUNED IN Sign up for VOTER VOICE on IRTA website www.irtaonline.org
JOIN IRTAPAC HELP US TO HELP YOU Sign up today to have $1.00 a month deducted to support IRTAPAC IRTAPAC is not the same as the Legal Defense Fund IRTAPAC is PROACTIVE by challenging bad legislation before it becomes bad law
WHAT DOES THE PICTURE LOOK LIKE STATEWIDE? IRTA MEMBERSHIP 37,548 IRTAPAC MEMBERSHIP 4,763 13%
LASALLE COUNTY IRTA MEMBERSHIP 567 IRTAPAC MEMBERSHIP 69 12%
JOIN IRTAPAC TODAY…REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM…PROTECT YOUR PENSION…SIGN UP TODAY
Ed Wollet IRTA Legislative Committee Chair ewollet@gmail Ed Wollet IRTA Legislative Committee Chair ewollet@gmail.com 217-620-8468