I’m impressed that State Rep. Mike Tryon is sharing questionnaires he answers on his campaign web site.  Here’s what he told the Retired Teachers Association:

Illinois Retired Teachers Association

IRTA 2010 Candidate Questionnaire

Michael W. Tryon

State Representative, District 64

1. Over 65,000 retired educators are presently enrolled in the Teachers Retirement Insurance Plan (TRIP). Retired educators’ premiums are subsidized at a rate of either 50% or 75% depending upon the plan of their choice. At the end of fiscal year 2010 the TRIP fund had depleted its reserves. Currently, the state provides approximately $75 million to the fund which matches the active teacher contribution. Would you be willing to support additional state funding to insure that retired educators will not be burdened with excessive premium increases or incur a reduction of health related benefits?

No. I believe this is an issue that needs to be negotiated by both parties. Clearly the changes forthcoming in the healthcare system are uncertain and the financial impact that healthcare reform will have is unknown.  At this time I am unable to make this commitment.

1. Funding the pension systems within the state, and more specifically to Teachers Retirement system, is an important public policy issue with substantial impact on the lives of retired educators. Do you support full funding of the Illinois pension system?

Yes. I have never supported a furlough in the pension payment and will continue to vote against budgets that don’t provide 100% funding for pension systems.

1. The IRTA has sought relief for educators who have retired before 1980 and their associated survivors to correct the significant decrease of purchasing power of their annuities via an ad-hoc increases in annuity payments. The average age of these annuitants and survivors is 92 and 85 respectively. Would you support legislation which provides an ad-hoc increase for educators who have retired before 1980 and their survivors?

No. Without identifying a revenue source for this budget period, the actuarial costs of this action would have to be absorbed by the pension system, which is not financially able to absorb it. While I am sympathetic to this request and need, adequate funding simply does not exist at this time. I am open to looking at this issue in the future, but I believe it would be financially irresponsible for me to say that I could find the resources to support this change right now.

1. In the spring of 2009, legislation was passed and signed into law which removed all previous appointees to boards and commissions. The Teachers Retirement System Board of Trustees was the only board which had a change in structure. The legislation provided for an additional Governor appointee giving the majority of the board to the appointees. Would you support legislation which would return the majority of the board to the elected trustees?

Yes.

1. On April 14, 2010, Illinois drastically changed public employee pensions for all future hires. Public Act 96-0889 was the largest and most substantial pension overhaul in the country. Illinois now has the highest retirement age for teachers in the country. Would you support legislation which would lower the age of retirement for teachers to 62?

No. The legislation accommodated for retirement at age 62, but with a 30% reduction in the annuity payment. I would support legislation that would create a deferred compensation plan for teachers who wish to retire prior to the age of 67 and would be willing to pay a higher percentage of their income into a deferred compensation plan that would be individually managed and controlled by the annuitant.

1. The Chicago Civic Federation and many media markets believe the General Assembly should change retirement benefits for active and retired educators. Do you pledge to oppose legislation which would negatively impact the benefits for current and retired educators?

Absolutely. It is my understanding that the Chicago Civic Federation has opined that the General Assembly can change benefits for active educators and pension participants. However, under the Illinois Constitution it is clear that any diminishment to a pension benefit currently provided to an annuitant can not be changed and I will continue to support tenets of the Illinois State Constitution.

Please provide any additional information that you believe retired educators should know about your candidacy.

I will always make financial decisions based on what is best for the State of Illinois. Taxpayers in Illinois face no greater liability than the under-funded pension system. I believe that as a legislator it is my fiduciary responsibility to ensure that the pension systems return to the financially stable, sound and well-managed systems that they should be. As a legislator I will always vote in favor meeting our pension obligations.