"As your constituent, a voter and an IEA member I am calling to urge you to vote NO on any pension bill opposed by the IEA. Please oppose any legislation that forces teachers and public employees to unfairly pick up the entire cost of the state's pension debt. The pension represents the entire life savings for most Illinois public school teachers, as they do not receive Social Security. The public employees didn't cause this mess but we are willing to help fix it. You and the other members of the legislature need to work with the unions to find a fair and constitutional solution to the pension problem. Thank you for considering my views."
For more, log into NUEA Connect.
Justice DiVito's letter to Quinn - Read Illinois Appellate Justice Gino DiVito's letter to Gov. Quinn. In his letter, DiVito analyzes the law, including the Pension Protection Clause in the constitution, past cases that have attempted to circumnavigate the law, and the possibility of Quinn's proposal actually succeeding if challenged in court. Spoiler alert: His findings are wonderfully refreshing.
Quinn's Pension Proposal - Please contact your legislators! This proposal is unconstitutional, unfair, and fiscally irresponsible! Asking members to pay 3% more doesn't change the state's obligation of 7%, which they already don't pay. Plus, raising the retirement age to 67 means local school districts will keep their most experienced and highest paid teachers an additional 7 to 12 years. That is a SIGNIFICANT additional expense for local districts. And what about the dearth of jobs for new teachers? Nothing about this plan makes the pension system stronger. Read more in CONNECT.
Illinois Continues to Subsidize National Board Candidates in 2012 - Despite ongoing budget difficulties, Illinois is committed to support and encourage National Board candidates. The application window has just been extended to June 15. Know that the total application cost is $2565, but the Illinois Subsidy will pay $2000 of that amount on your behalf.
Cinda Klickna Pension Update - Our IEA President clarifies Dick Ingram's comments about the sustainability of TRS. Please login to NUEA Connect for details.
About Wisconsin:
We are IEA (Commercial):
About TRS Pensions: Please inform yourself, your friends, and your legislators about the truth about teacher's pensions in Illinois.
Did you know that TRS pensions are only 4.2% of the FY2012 state budget? Did you know that TRS paid $4.5 billion in benefits this year, but revenue totaled $10.5 billion? Clearly, TRS is sustainable! If you only download one fact sheet, this is the one! Send this fact sheet to everyone you know, and tell the state to stop using TRS as the state's credit card and start paying their obligation to Illinois teachers!
About School Reform...please watch Sir Ken Robinson's animate concerning the need to change our education paradigms. Its a facinating lecture about why our current model contributes to high drop-out rates, the decline of the arts, and the rise of diagnosed ADHD.