Why I Do Not Trust the Illinois Education Association's Leadership, Especially Their Endorsements
Do you remember the flawed "Pension Ramp" (Public Act 88-0593) signed into law in 1995 that exacerbated the unfunded liability, and that the IEA leadership supported Public Act 88-0593?
Do you remember the IEA leadership "proudly supported" Senate Bill 7 that was signed into law in June 2011, the bill that ensured that teachers' evaluations and their tenure were tied to the Performance Evaluation Reform Act (Public Act 96-0861), the bill that ensured a so-called "streamlined process for the dismissal of teacher tenure," the bill that required an authorization of 75% for a strike vote in Chicago, to name just a few complications that confront today's teachers?
Do you remember the IEA leadership had agreed to diminish and impair current teachers' and retirees' constitutionally-guaranteed benefits that had been protected by previous Illinois Supreme Court rulings, because the IEA leadership believed SB 2404 would thwart any further attacks on our Pension Protection Clause? Do you remember that Senate Bill 2404 in May, 2013, a unilateral reduction of pension rights, was declared unconstitutional in May 2015?
Do you remember the IEA leadership did nothing to stop the Illinois legislature's 3% cap on retiring teachers' pensionable salaries that was in violation of the Pension Protection Clause?
Now the IEA believes "Michael Connelly understands that pensions are a promise and understands the importance of collective bargaining rights…":
Well, the IEA has apparently forgotten that Connelly voted to diminish and impair public employees' and retirees' constitutionally-guaranteed pension on December 2, 2013. He was one of 30 unethical Illinois senators to do so.
The IEA has apparently forgotten that Connelly sponsored SB 1763 which would "amend the General Assembly Article of the Illinois Pension Code and require active Tier 1 employees to elect either to (i) have automatic annual increases in retirement annuity and survivor's annuity delayed and reduced or (ii) maintain the current benefit package with additional limitations on pensionable salary..."
The IEA has apparently forgotten that Connelly sponsored SB 2172 which would "create a defined contribution plan for all new annuitants, offer inactive members a buy-out option, and shift costs to local school districts."
The IEA has apparently forgotten that Connelly sponsored SB 2173 which would amend the General Assembly, State Employee, State Universities, Downstate Teacher, and Chicago Teacher Articles of the Illinois Pension Code and require active Tier 1 employees to elect either to (i) have automatic annual increases in retirement and survivor's annuities delayed and reduced or (ii) maintain their current benefit package with additional limitations on pensionable salary; [it would also] provide that a Tier 1 employee who elects item (i) is entitled to have future increases in income treated as pensionable income, have contributions reduced to a specified rate, and receive a consideration payment of 10% of contributions made prior to the election. [It would also] provide that a Tier 1 employee who elects item (ii) is not eligible to have future increases in income treated as pensionable income..."
The IEA has apparently forgotten that Connelly sponsored SR 1590 that states the belief that "the Illinois Constitution should not be amended to permit a graduated income tax."
The IEA has apparently forgotten that Connelly sponsored "opportunity scholarships" (SB 0688) and "vouchers" for private school tuition, a $100 million tax credit program.
The IEA has also apparently forgotten that Connelly sided with Rauner's right to work agenda; that Connelly does not care whether Rauner's right to work agenda will weaken the middle class by reducing wages and encouraging free-loaders; that it will harm local businesses and create a weaker Illinois economy; that it will stifle workers' earnings, via the destruction of a fair-share collective bargaining economy; that it will also eliminate the IEA's and other unions' power to advocate for their memberships.
Posted by gbrown at 12:20 PM
Labels: elections, IL politics
Irene Cechura October 28, 2018 at 1:23 PM
Sen. Rezin was also endorsed, and also voted to diminish our pensions. There may be other endorsements that are also, to say the least, questionable.
gbrown October 29, 2018 at 6:44 AM
For example, Don Harmon in Oak Park.
gbrown October 30, 2018 at 7:14 PM
"This is why I stopped IPACE donations long ago. Republican Michael Connelly voted against the bipartisan budget that would have ended Rauner's two year budget standoff. He then stood again with Rauner and refused to vote for the budget override, even as schools across Illinois were in danger of not opening on time. He voted against raising the minimum teacher pay to a whopping $40K four years from now. He voted against allowing grad students to unionize. He voted against raising the age to 21 to buy tobacco/vaping products and assault style weapons. He has a 93% NRA rating; a 14% labor rating from the AFL-CIO; and a 14% civil rights rating from Action Illinois - a civil rights watchdog group. Yet he's endorsed by IEA? Seriously, what the hell is wrong with IPACE? If we continue to endorse candidates who vote against labor and the needs of our students were screwed. If there was some reason not to endorse Laura Ellman, then don't endorse in the race. Connelly is no friend of teachers or our union" -Michael Cousineau
gbrown November 15, 2018 at 6:34 AM
Sen. Mike Connelly is now trailing his Democratic opponent by 512 votes: "On Tuesday night Connelly was leading by 12. Should Connelly have been declared the winner on Tuesday night? Absolutely not. Hundreds and hundreds of legitimately cast ballots hadn't been counted on Tuesday night."-Capitol Fax
Connelly lost.
gbrown December 25, 2018 at 5:24 AM
"Unions, organizations formerly steeped in the doctrine of class struggle and filled with those who sought broad social and political rights for the working class, have been transformed into domesticated partners of the capitalist class. They have been reduced to simple bartering tools. The social demands of unions early in the twentieth century that gave the working class weekends off, the right to strike, the eight-hour day, and Social Security have been abandoned" (Chris Hedges).
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