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Summary and audio linked here.
Chicago’s political leadership is floating a pension buyout program as evidence it is seriously addressing the city’s thirty-six-billion-dollar unfunded pension liability, but Mark Glennon, founder of the Illinois policy research organization Wirepoints, said that the proposal moves debt from one column to another rather than reducing it, and that the broader fiscal picture facing the city continues to deteriorate across every measurable dimension. Audio here.
Expect no retraction or apology. This what they do.
The state’s existing buyout program for its own pensions is the precedent for Chicago, which should be a warning: Look out for similar exaggerated claims and shoddy analysis.
Full interview and summary linked here.
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IL once again violating the tenor of the law(s) to provide a benefit to illegal aliens which is unavailable to U.S. citizens.
Section 507 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA), codified at 8 U.S.C. § 1623, provides that “an alien who is not lawfully present in the United States shall not be eligible on the basis of residence within a State (or political subdivision) for any postsecondary education benefit unless a citizen or national is eligible for that benefit without regard to whether that citizen is a resident of that State. In effect, the statute prohibits states from giving “residence-based” benefits (like in-state tuition) to undocumented persons unless the same benefit is available to U.S. citizens no matter where they live. On the other hand,… Read more »
Another fascinating example of how leftists manipulate the language of the law to accomplish the opposite of the intent.
Thanks Shylock.
So I provide factual information about whether or not this program will be illegal and you proceed to call me a name. Why do you hate knowledge and facts? What a miserable way to go through life.
This was interesting information. It’s difficult to evaluate the programs without spending more time than I have to wade through the statute, amendments, regulations etc. It seems that the program was originally designed to be “temporary” but [as with other programs] it seems to have developed a vocal constituency … especially if beneficiaries can vote. See https://www.ncsl.org/human-services/temporary-assistance-for-needy-families. Obviously, states that opt for the safe harbor encourage and vote to get more and more federal assistance so who knows what it costs non-IL federal taxpayers. IF you favor the free lunch menu it is probably the type of program you would… Read more »
Trump is already trying to shut them down so not sure what an executive order would accomplish. The administration is arguing that Illinois is violating existing law. Illinois is arguing that they aren’t providing benefits based on residency and instead are offering it up to all who meet the other terms. Until a court tells Illinois otherwise, I would imagine that Illinois will continue to provide these benefits. Also, Illinois is using its own money (money they don’t have) and not federal which makes it harder for the Trump administration to do anything about it. The outcome will be up… Read more »
One can hope that Trump is sufficiently clever to find a lever (such as highway construction funds) to get Pritzker’s attention to ineffective government spending. If Illinois voters continue to be unduly focused on their pet projects or fail to vote in off-year elections, why shouldn’t the Federal government step in as it did with Puerto Rico? The liberals have already encroached state sovereignty to the max. Trump is pushing encroachment to enforce immigration laws and otherwise deter nullification. Our republican nation has already lasted much longer than its antecedents. Decline & fall can take a bit longer than an… Read more »