SPRINGFIELD - Illinois public sector pensions are $100 Billion in arrears, and public sector unions are arm-twisting and pressuring state lawmakers to resist changes to the system, demanding promises made be kept as the system faces collapse. With such an outstanding debt facing Illinois taxpayers, credit agencies continue to lower credit ratings, costing the state millions each day any reform is delayed. Public sector coalitions like "We Are One" threaten to sue the state if any reform is passed that negatively affects agreements made in the past. Still, the state faces a pension crisis.
Thursday night, Senate President John Cullerton allowed Senate floor debate and vote on SB 1 - House Speaker Mike Madigan's pension reform bill that passed the Illinois House earlier this month.
SB 1, which was staunchly opposed by public sector unions, was overwhelmingly rejected by Senate Democrats in a 16 to 42 vote. State Senator Matt Murphy urged the Senate to vote Yes (Watchdog.org video):
The Senate roll call - not along party lines - is below the fold. Republican senators with strong public sector union influences in their districts voted "no" - Barickman, Bivins, Leuchtefeld, McCann, McCarter, McConnaughay, Righter and Rose.
