From State Senator Karen McConnauhay:
Urging Bipartisan Negotiations to Continue
After months of negotiation and discussions, the Illinois Senate moved forward this week with bipartisan votes on several measures comprising the Senate’s “Grand Bargain” budget and reform package.
Substantial reform to the state’s pension systems that will save as much as $1 billion a year. This would provide significant financial relief for our state.
Senator McConnaughay speaking at a press conference urging continued budget negotiations.
Join Senator McConnaughay on her next Facebook Live with Senator Dan McConchie discussing property tax legislation.
We still have much to do, but demonstrating we can come together on important issues is progress. We need to continue these discussions on other critical proposals like property tax relief for the homeowners and employers burdened by some of the highest property taxes in the nation. This is a bipartisan issue that impacts residents throughout the state.
With every budget conversation we get a little closer to something both sides can live with. Senate lawmakers are close on so many outstanding issues, but balancing the budget on the backs of our homeowners and employers simply isn’t acceptable. Now is the time to turn down the rhetoric, focus on compromise and stay on task to reach an agreement before time runs out.
I hope you join me and my colleague, Senator Dan McConchie next Wednesday, May 24 for a further discussion on Facebook Live on property tax legislation.
As always, feel free to contact me any time at senator@karenmcconnaughay.com or follow the latest updates on my website http://www.senatormcconnaughay.com/.
Karen McConnaughay
State Senator
33rd District
Watch Senator McConnaughay’s remarks during the press conference.
Republican Leadership Urges Bipartisan Negotiations to Continue
State Senators Jason Brickman, Karen McConnauhay and Bill Brady.
This past week, Senator McConnaughay joined her colleagues Senators Bill Brady and Jason Barickman to offer an update on the budget and urge her colleagues to remain committed to the good-faith negotiations. Specifically, McConnaughay spoke about the importance of property tax relief.
“High property taxes aren’t a burden just in Republican parts of the state, but high property taxes exist in all parts of the state,” said Senator McConnaughay. “I know many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle have constituents asking them not to raise taxes without corresponding property tax relief. There is bipartisan recognition that we have to do something about the property tax burden.”
Senator McConnaughay Speaks with American Society of Civil Engineers
On Thursday, Senator McConnaughay spoke with the Illinois Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers regarding the status of the budget and how it will affect investments into Illinois’ infrastructure. McConnaughay stressed the importance of passing the budget which is critically important to ensure we continue to maintain and improve the state’s roadways and bridges for the safety of residents well into the future.
‘Illinois Lawmakers’ Interview on Human Trafficking
Senator McConnaughay and Representative Robyn Gabel are set to appear on “Illinois Lawmakers” this evening, Friday, May 19 at 10:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 20 at 6:00 a.m. on WTTW Prime. As members of the Human Trafficking Task Force, they will share details on ways to combat human trafficking.
The legislation for $1 billion in annual pension savings probably refers to the proposed consideration proposal.
If passed, the unions will sue, alleging it violates the state constitution.
Even if the state prevails in that lawsuit, $1 billion in annual savings, while substantial based on the majority of the Illinois General Assembly will concede, is not really substantial.
Total unfunded debt (pensions, retiree healthcare aka OPEB) for state and local governments in Illinois is now $267 billion.
http://www.illinoispolicy.org/each-illinois-household-on-the-hook-for-56k-in-government-worker-retirement-debt
The state portion is well over $100 billion.
So there is a state funding “crisis” for the forseeable future.
Which means there is a crisis based on every entity who wants money from the state for the forseeable future.
That means an education crisis, a city crisis, a pension crisis, a this crisis, a that crisis.
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And that is using actuarial projections which many to be overly optimistic.
Projections fall short, the entire shortfall goes to the taxpayer.
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Hiking pension benefits and salaries when pensions were already underfunded was a disaster with scant press coverage when the benefit and salary hikes were passed.