Pension savings explored; next step more difficult

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[JAN. 29, 2005]  CHICAGO -- The Governor's Pension Funding Commission moved closer to its final report on Friday, voting to suggest eight specific areas of cost savings for "examination and consideration" and to impose a moratorium on new pension benefits unless accompanied by a specific new funding source.

State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, who represents the Senate Republican Caucus on the panel, says the next step will be even more difficult.

"Next week, the commission will attempt to determine how to recommend any cost savings be used," Brady said. "That is where we're really going to have to vigilant to ensure any cost savings aren't used to hide the governor's failed fiscal policies. This discussion needs to be about the long-term solution to our pension funding crisis -- and its overall drain on the state's budget -- not the governor's fiscal irresponsibility.

"I will not support further burdening our grandchildren with debt and putting the pension system in greater financial risk to bail out the governor."

To help ease the long-term financial burden on the state budget, the commission on Friday approved recommending a moratorium on new pensions unless there is a specific new funding source identified. "It does not make sense to incur new costs without a way to pay for them," Brady said.

In addition, the commission chose eight areas of cost savings for "examination and consideration."

"The list includes limiting ‘end of career' pay increases that we're seeing in school districts and other areas," Brady said. "We should examine limiting these large bumps in pay that are done not as a reflection of job duties but rather just to bump up an employee's pension."

Other areas to be examined include increasing the early retirement penalty for future employees who retire before age 65, limiting cost-of-living adjustments for new hires, changing the alternative retirement formula for new hires only, increasing employees' contributions and changing the money purchase option for new university system hires. The report will also include options that could be considered in those areas.

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Brady made it clear in the commission meeting that the report will not recommend benefits cuts or changes. "What we're doing is urging the governor and General Assembly to focus the attention on specific areas where the state could save some money," he said.

At his insistence, the Pension Funding Commission has already voted unanimously to reject any plans the governor may have had to reduce benefits for existing employees, which Brady and others believe would be unconstitutional.

"The pension benefits of our current teachers and employees are protected under the Illinois Constitution," Brady said. "Any move to reduce those benefits would end up costing the state in litigation expenses. The bottom line is: The state needs to live up to the commitments we have made to our teachers and other employees."

The recommended moratorium also does not apply to an extension of the early retirement option in the Teachers' Retirement System, which was approved unanimously by the Illinois Senate during the 93rd General Assembly, or to local government pensions.

[Illinois Senate Republican Caucus news release]

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