Join Americans for Prosperity, the Illinois Policy Institute, and Wirepoints today for a roundtable discussion on the proposed tier 2 pension sweetener legislation. Panelists will go over the history of the need for tier 2 and tier 1, why the discussions are happening, and what the implications will be for taxpayers if lawmakers do ‘sweeten’ public sector pensions.
Date: May 21, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CST
Click here to Register. YOU MUST RSVP IN ORDER TO ATTEND
Read more about the Tier 2 pension issue from Wirepoints:
- Do Illinois and Chicago really need to sweeten Tier 2 pension benefits? – Wirepoints in the Chicago Tribune
- Illinois lawmakers shouldn’t burden taxpayers with Tier 2 pension “fixes” until they know what they’re doing
- Illinois taxpayers deserve answers before state pension costs rise – Wirepoints in the Chicago Sun-Times
Audio and summary 
If this bill passes, say goodbye to local control over all Illinois parks and expect to see open drug and alcohol use, needles, no sanitation and fire hazards, but no ordinary park users.
Expect no retraction or apology. This what they do.
The best thing that could be done to lower pension costs would be to require the politicians to fully fund the pension assets immediately. Compound interest can get kind of tricky these days.
More unearned benefits for the undeserving. Ranks right up there with benefits for illegal aliens.
IL needs pension reform. Should only collect highest pension earned, not every pension. Should not be able to collect pensions while working directly or indirectly for the state.
Nope. It’s their pension money and they can work or sit around on their boat all day if they choose. It’s not up to you what they do with their time and labor after they retire from their job.
Its not the Pensioner’s money any more than bank robbers bag of loot is the thieving bank robbers money. Everyone in Illinois who is not part of the criminal cabal of public union scum know about the politician/union political criminal racketeering and collusion. Just like Government seizure of the Mafia loot, soon these ill gotten gains will be cut off from the evil thieves and returned to the taxpayers. Enjoy your baggies of gravy train.
I know you would like to believe that but it’s just another one of the lies you tell yourself. It’s THEIR money. The state agreed to pay them a pension if they completed so many years of service. The pensioner didn’t propose these pensions. The state freely (and continues to offer) offered this benefit. You or Debbie can’t take it away just because you live in alternative universe. They will do as they please with THEIR money. If they want to work another job and earn another pension or two, they are well within their rights. If they want to… Read more »
Back to the Marie Antoinette role now I see, but I’m sure you’re keeping Shylock and your pound of flesh in reserve.
PPF – i am not sure it is entirely accurate to state that the pension funds are “their” money. It is the State’s money, subject to a fixed and protected obligation to pay pensioners. The pensioners don’t assume any risk with respect to what you call “their” money. You are correct to point out the pensioners are in a highly protected status, but the money and risk and fixed obligations lie with the State (taxpayers). This matters because the real issue at hand is whether the existing pension arrangement is economically sustainable. Good luck arguing that it is.
I never said the pension “funds” were their money. The payment they receive is THEIR money regardless of what they do with THEIR time after they leave a position that offers a pension.
You need to start by neutering the teacher’s unions in Illinois.
Until then you will keep running towards a fiscal cliff in Taxistan.
Nope. No laws shall be passed that interferes with members of public employee unions to organize and collectively bargain. They are constitutionally protected to form and keep their union and collectively bargain for better pay and benefits. Better get to work on changing that constitution if you don’t like it. Good luck finding 71 out of 118 house members and 36 of the 59 Senate members along with a super majority of the voters.
Illinois Constitution Section 2. Due Process And Equal Protection
“No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law nor be denied the equal protection of the laws.”
While you are on the subject of the constitution, explain to the reader where due process was followed when the tax assessor sends you a bill for property taxes.
The Illinois constitution addresses property taxes with article IX section 4. Property shall be levied uniformly based on valuation and the general assembly shall establish methods for determining valuation. Property owners are given notice of the property assessment and they are offered a formal and structured appeal process. If they don’t agree with the valuation they can contest it by providing evidence based on their valuation. They could also appeal to the courts if they believe the law and constitution wasn’t followed. Due process is available for all property owners. High property taxes, if applied uniformly, are allowed and it… Read more »
“Originally, I got involved with this because of property taxes. The county tax assessor was trying to steal my mom’s house and her land, by assessing her an egregious property tax that was completely out of line with everybody else’s property taxes. So I pulled up the tax code and started reading it. And I found out that [deleted].
Never happened Frank. I’ll never understand how people fall for this type of sovereign-citizen pseudolaw. At least we all know that you are not serious in any of your discussions. You’re consistent. I’ll give you that.
Never mentioned sovereign or citizen. You’re lost, as usual.
That’s bad advice, Frank, so I deleted it. Please do not give legal advice here.
It was a general comment and not directed at anyone requesting legal advice. So much for being a free speech advocate.
Btw, I posted almost exactly the same comment about 6 months ago. You better go back and delete it. They’re coming to get you.
https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=003502000HTit%2E+9&ActID=596&ChapterID=8&SeqStart=83800000&SeqEnd=-1
https://www.daviscountyutah.gov/assessor/personal-property
“Taxable personal property is primarily that which is used in the operation of a business …”
Being a betting man, I am betting that pensions will increase. History shows pensions increase at an increasing rate even though the money is not there to cover the debt. They just sell out the next generation.