Property Taxpayers Far More Protected With Comprehensive Pension Reform That Includes Responsibility for School Districts Than Without

CHICAGO - August 5, 2012. Governor Quinn released data today prepared by the Illinois Office of Management & Budget (OMB) that shows without comprehensive pension reform, Illinois will spend more on pensions than education by Fiscal Year 2016. The budget office performed the district-by-district analysis based on current projections to examine the long-term funding challenges of the state if comprehensive pension reform is not enacted. The analysis was released just days after Governor Quinn called a special session dedicated to pension reform on August 17.

"Illinois cannot continue down this path at the expense of our children," Governor Quinn said. "We must enact comprehensive pension reform that eliminates the unfunded liability to repair our pension system and give the next generation the education they deserve."

Under current actuarial assumptions, required state pension contributions will rise to over $6 billion in the next few years if no comprehensive pension reform is enacted, which will continue to result in significant cuts to education. According to the analysis, continued cuts to education as a result of fast-rising pension costs will cost downstate and suburban school districts far more than assuming the responsibility to pay for their compensation decisions over time.

For example, if comprehensive pension reform that includes a phased-in normal cost realignment is enacted, downstate and suburban school districts would assume $49 million in new normal pension costs in Fiscal Year 2014. However, if no such reform is adopted, downstate and suburban school districts would instead see their budgets reduced by $152 million, according to current projections.

School districts would be far more protected from a property tax increase with comprehensive pension reform that includes the responsibility to pay for compensation decisions, than they would be without.

Every day that Illinois' pension crisis goes unresolved, the unfunded pension liability grows by $12.6 million. Without comprehensive pension reform, funding for key services such as education will continue to be squeezed out. Governor Quinn has proposed a comprehensive pension reform plan that eliminates the unfunded liability over the next 30 years and includes a phased-in normal cost realignment that would ensure school districts have a stake in the contracts they negotiate.

The complete analysis is attached.

SPRINGFIELD, IL (08/03/2012)(readMedia)-- SPRINGFIELD - Fire fighters and police officers throughout the Litchfield area came to aid the victims after a Megabus crash on Aug. 2 that killed one and injured three dozen.

Among those assisting the first-responders were two Illinois National Guard Soldiers, Cadet Casey Fay of Edwardsville, with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment in Litchfield and Pfc. Christopher Morris of Robinson, with 445th Chemical Company in Shiloh.

The two were driving from Camp Lincoln in Springfield, headed to their office at the Illinois National Guard's East St. Louis Readiness Center in East St. Louis when they came across the crash.

Morris said as they passed the wreck, they saw firefighters and EMTs assisting people at the scene.

"We both felt it in our gut that we should get out there and help these people," said Morris.

Fay, a combat medic and certified EMT, helped the first responders treat the victims. Morris, who just returned from a Search and Extraction class, assisted with litters and patient aid.

Fay said the first responders were happy to receive the additional help from the two Soldiers. They directed the two to help the walking wounded and get casualties on to stretchers to be transported for further treatment. They also assisted with gathering patient information.

After most of the walking wounded were triaged, they were loaded on to a bus to be transported to Litchfield community center for further medical treatment.

Fay was assigned as the primary medic on one of the buses transporting patients to the community center. Morris stayed on scene to help more casualties get on stretchers to be transported to area hospitals.

"We were glad we stopped and helped out," said Fay. "They definitely put our skills to good use."

CHICAGO - August 3, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:

Bill No.: HB 4500

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Amends the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Act to allow for the appointment of a public and intergovernmental affairs officer for the MWRD.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 4513

An Act Concerning: Public Employee Benefits

Makes the following pension reforms to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Retirement Fund: phases in increased employee contributions to the fund; requires additional employee contributions for survivor's annuity and annual increases; increases employer contributions to the fund; and requires the MWRD to make actuarially-determined contributions to reach 90 percent funding by 2050.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: SB 2958

An Act Concerning: State Government

Makes various changes related to procurement, including exempting from the Illinois Procurement Code artistic and musical performances held at venues operated or leased by a state agency; transfers administration of the workers' compensation program to a private vendor; adds the Illinois Math and Science Academy (IMSA) in the definition of a public institution of higher education; and makes numerous other changes.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: SB 3487

An Act Concerning: Transportation

Permits the use of multi-function school activity buses for students in grades nine through 12 for curriculum-related activity, not to include the transport of students to and from home and school.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

MILITARY MUSEUM MARKS BICENTENNIAL OF FORT DEARBORN MASSACRE DURING THE WAR OF 1812

SPRINGFIELD, IL (08/03/2012)(readMedia)-- To recognize the 200th anniverary of the War of 1812, Don Ferricks, assistant curator of the Military Museum and Living Historian will display and discuss the uniform and equipment of a Regular Army Soldier of the time.

WHO:

Don Ferricks, assistant curator of the Illinois State Military Museum and Living Historian

WHAT:

To recognize the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 and the Fort Dearborn massacre, the Illinois State Military Museum will feature Living Historian Don Ferricks who will display and discuss the uniform and equipment of a Regular Army Soldier of the time. Admission and parking are free.

WHEN: Wednesday August 15, 2012 at 01:00PM Central Time (US & Canada)

WHERE:Illinois State Military Museum
1301 N. MacArthur Blvd
Springfield, Illinois 62702

NOTES:

The Illinois State Military Museum displays the history of the Illinois National Guard from 1723 to the 21st Century. Located two blocks north of the intersection of MacArthur Blvd. and North Grand Ave. in Springfield, Ill., the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 1-4:30 p.m. Admission and parking are free. Contact the museum at (217) 761-3910 or NGILMilitaryMuseum@ng.army.mil or visit http://www.il.ngb.army.mil/museum/. Become a museum Facebook Fan at www.facebook.com/illinoisstatemilitarymuseum. To learn more about Illinois National Guard history visit http://www.il.ngb.army.mil/History/.