A press release from State Rep. Barb Wheeler:
Rep. Wheeler Responds to Pension Reform Vote
Springfield, IL… In response to today’s vote on Senate Bill 1, State Representative Barbara
Wheeler has issued the following statement:
“Today legislators took a large step toward shoring up our five public pension systems.Barb Wheeler
While I believe there are still additional reforms that are needed, I view the components of Senate Bill 1 as a solid beginning point for comprehensive pension reform.
“There is no issue in Illinois that is more important than pension reform. By reining in our pension obligation, we will soon have more funding available for the critically important budget areas like education, services for Illinois’ most vulnerable and poorest citizens, unpaid bills and other state priorities. These are all budget areas have been shortchanged for far too long.
“I view the passage of Senate Bill 1 as a great first step and hope that in the future we can take
additional steps to reform our pension system to more sustainable levels.”
This “reform” seems like an S&L bailout, of sorts: leave the burden on the middle class. If Springfielders had done their jobs in the first place, this would never have occurred.
Did not take long for this newly elected Representative to be co-opted by the Springfield proletariat.
Barb.
Details of the errors of the bill and what should be done should be the focus, not repeating the issue again.
Please read Dan Duffy’s response as one of the starting points.
Barb Wheeler continues to duck the issues, much like her lackluster performance on the County Board.
Hopefully, her first term will be her last.
All the republican women in the Mchenry county voted for it.
Isn’t it funny how the state votes on it 1 day after the dead line for petitions are due so they can see if anyone is running against them.
most of the yes votes will not have any challenges in the election.
the no votes will have challenges.
This will be challenged in court.
and dragged out for a couple of years.
this bill still doesn’t address the issue of the politicians and judges.
They still get 100% of what they make when they leave office + 3% cost of living raise.
Teachers and state workers have to work 8 years to be vested and after 20 years of work might get 30%.
Barb your failed with this vote and your answer SUCKED TOO!!!
now quinn can ride off to the sun set, because he was put on this earth to solve the pension problem.
Everyone need to vote out these spineless Wimps out.
Sad we need more republicans elected so we can take some power away from madigan.
He is the problem and will never be the solution!!
Yeah, I also noticed this screaming piece of legislation was voted on right after the petition deadline.
Too much of a coincidence for me – especially in light of how votes fell vs who has a challenger.
DOH!!
Bad legislation isn’t much of an accomplishment is it – unless you are Gov. Quinn.
**Hopefully, her first term will be her last.**
LOL – have fun beating Rep. Wheeler in the primary with a write-in candidate.
**Please read Dan Duffy’s response as one of the starting points.**
Dan Duffy supported Sen. Biss’s SB35, and said that he supported Madigan’s original SB1 (he was at his daughter’s graduation when the vote occurred).
The bill that passed yesterday was VERY similar to those to bills that Duffy supported.
The difference is that now Duffy doesn’t want to give Quinn a pension victory, and in turn take away an issue from Bruce Rauner.
I know that facts are not fun when they get in the way of an ideological point, but the bill that was signed yesterday DOES impact “politicians” (i.e. legislators in the General Assembly Retirement System).
It is a blatant lie to say that the cuts did not impact the legislators.
Dave read this again and show me where the lie is.
And then show me in the bill were they will NOT get 100% of what they make when they leave office.
Please get your facts right.
Lets see…
You said this does not address politicians. That is false. It explicitly does.
You said that they keep their 3% COLAs.
That is false.
It changes the 3% COLA to the same new formula as everyone else (except judges).
So yea, facts.
They just get in the way.
Maybe it’s too late to fix it; the ship’s sinking, the gunnels are awash.