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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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“Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady also praised Cullerton’s leadership, saying that the Senate will “forever be better” as a result of his time in office. “We may not have always agreed on how best to address the issues facing the state, but there can be no denying John always put the people of Illinois first,” he said. ” Look at this RINO charge forward like quite the young stud. Highest tax burden in the nation. Worst government services. Second worst pension debt. Crumbling infrastructure. Most corrupt politicians and government. State losing population. “Forever be better” he says. “Putting the people… Read more »
Bipartisanship can go to h e l l. The Democrats in Springfield are the Vichy. They deserve no collaboration, active resistance, and utter disdain. I regularly tell Democrat canvassers ringing my door bell to get off my property as I spit on the ground at their feet until they leave. I scream insults at them and remind them that the Democrats were the party of the KKK, Jim Crow, communists, anti-civil rights and baby killing as they run down my driveway. No, I’m not a curmudgeonly 90 year old man. I’m just an extremely polarized Gen X conservative who has… Read more »
Same here, debtsor. We have a lot in common.
Pressing questions that the Body Politic need answered: 1. Will Cullerton and his spouse be able to draw money from their corrupt Illinois pensions when he is rotting in prison? Cause, golly, even corrupt imprisoned politicians have expenses and a lifestyle to uphold. 2. Does he need a good defense attorney? I hear that Lisa Madigan is now in private practice. Since she was IL Attorney General then certainly she must be an excellent attorney. 3. Will he be able to bunk with Mike Madigan? If not Madigan, can Cullerton bunk with Blagojevich? 4. Can Cullerton pay a visit to… Read more »
There is more to this than we are being told…perhaps a back room deal with the investigators. After all he recently ran for that post in the Senate…something is up.
Something’s totally up. No one retires one year into their 6 year term unless they are forced it. My gut is that he’s the mole ratting everyone out. He’s the godfather to Madigan’s children if I remember correctly. Yet he too was likely wearing a wire this entire time. And now his handlers told him it’s time to retire. And he did. ‘To spend time with his family’. Before he takes his own plea deal which his criminal case is probably under seal. Just my guess, but the irony of the senate president taking out the rest of the corrupt… Read more »
In Illinois, where politicians like to rig the process even after they’re “gone” it is possible that Cullerton planned this so that he could pick his replacement. Incumbents in Illinois are almost always going to get reelected, so if he gives his replacement 5 years of time in the position, then it’s much more likely that he’ll get the votes in the next election.
Did you think these guys would ever just leave and let be? Nope. They fight literally until their death.
Sorry, John, you can still be indicted even though you’ve left office. Sleep well.
And that looser/ phony brady singing his praises, pathetic…
Wonder who that sack-of-s will while away his golden years lobbying for? Or how many comeds he’s already getten $pay-o-la$ from?
Didnt realize Cullerton s a lobbyist for city of chicago,per wbez articale, sure he aint lobbying for free. One can only wonder who else hes on the payroll of? WBEZ: Illinois Senate President Cullerton Stuns Springfield With Retirement Announcement.
https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/illinois-senate-president-cullerton-stuns-springfield-with-retirement-announcement/d9d1b638-0259-4e86-bd81-0e079acf80c0
“Cullerton is involved in an ongoing corruption scandal in which he is accused of pressuring the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways to pave public green space at taxpayer expense to enable a real estate development that he co-owns.”
From the opening paragraph on his wikipedia page.
Curious. Since Cullerton was a state rep and senator will he get 2 separate pensions or just 1? Does he qualify for S.S. and Medicare or are taxpayers on the hook?
Austin Berg wrote about the “pension lottery” waiting for both Cullerton and Madigan:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/opinion/ct-sta-berg-column-st-0602-20170601-story.html
In other news, Illinois announced a 10 foot golden statue of Mr. Cullerton will be erected in Springfield, the cost of which will be paid for by a slight increase in the proposed fair/progressive tax rates.
Plans to resign would be a better headline.
“Cullerton told reporters in Springfield that he will leave office in January, and said that he is leaving office to spend more time with his family.”
– November 14, 2019, NBC 5 Ward Room
Ok, Ok. I fixed it. Excitement got the best of me.
I was barely a toddler when this man first entered public office and yet here he is today still corrupting the legislature. And we all know that ‘spending time with family’ … means…for goodness sakes, the man JUST won his last election (unopposed too) with 88,000 voters in NOVEMBER 2018. And he’s retiring 1 year into his 6 year term? He couldn’t have made this decision 10 months ago to retire? Me thinks he knows the $ h i-t is about to hit the fan… down in Springfield. He may escape unscathed but he sees the writing on the wall.… Read more »
Maybe he does just want to enjoy his retirement ………………….. until he goes to prison.