Comments for Illinois Education Association

Comment on Call the Capitol Thursday by Bob

Bob — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:46:12 +0000

Right on!

Comment on Call the Capitol Thursday by Bob

Bob — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:58:28 +0000

This is my 40th year in education. I plan to work 4 more years and I would be willing to pay a few % more in the pension funds. BUT THAT IS IT…………. NO BENEFIT CUTS !!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment on Pension proposal analysis by Toni

Toni — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:47:40 +0000

Again, I ask: have you directed all these comments and questions to your state legislators and the governor? I doubt that they are reading this page. Do the triple whammy: CALL them, EMAIL them, and WRITE a snail mail letter to them. Do it now.

Comment on Pension proposal analysis by Jim

Jim — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:55:19 +0000

Joe,

Most of those getting over $100k pension are administrators (School CEOs, Superintendents, CSBOs, Curriculum Director) and not teachers. Only a few teachers make over $100k and those are the ones that have worked in costly areas and/wealthy school districts that are trying to attract the best. I’ve called TRS to ask them if they can separate the teachers from the executives and they asserted they have no means of doing so.

Comment on Pension proposal analysis by James Beal

James Beal — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:49:53 +0000

The state should pass a law in which the school district can levy for TRS contributions. They could modify the existing IMRF levy and phase this in over time.

Comment on Pension proposal analysis by James Beal

James Beal — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:48:35 +0000

I am not happy with IEA’s seeming emphasis on changing retired peoples benefits as being unconstitutional. It is unconstitutional for all of us. We are in a contractual relationship with TRS. We have paid money for years for a service. There is not question that the IL Constitution covers this.

Comment on Pension proposal analysis by James Beal

James Beal — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:46:16 +0000

Teachers are professionals. We should demand professional salaries and benefits. The general assembly needs to pay up the money they STOLE from pension. I earned that money as just compensation for labor performed. Anyone else that steals from pension funds goes to jail.

I beleive the proposal is for one have the cost of living and not compunded. That is not a cost of living increase.
I have no problem with districts/indiviuals picking up the cost. District’s have skated by for years getting away with not paying the equivelent in Social Security contributions.

For many of use near retirement age, it is too late to change.

Comment on Capitol Report for May 11, 2012 by James Beal

James Beal — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:39:55 +0000

Health insurance solution is a joke. They might as well take it away if a political hack will be in charge!

Comment on Pension proposal analysis by Jim

Jim — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:14:05 +0000

Hey Springfield, have you thought of the end game of your actions?

Has anyone in Springfield thought what the education system in IL is going to look like after the continued onslaught of Springfield’s unfunded mandates (nearly 100 since 1999), cut to educator benefits, destroyed communities by putting the pension on the locals, required teacher evals be determined by standardized tests,…who in their right mind would go into education…one without a “right mind” is going to be teaching our children. Stop the madness.

Comment on Pension proposal analysis by Jim

Jim — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:08:40 +0000

Tim,
The system is in crisis because lawmakers unconstitutionally borrowed from the fund without repayment, and they unconstitutionally took 15 years off from paying into the TRS system. Educators save the state billions of dollars by not opting for Social Security. Under Quinn’s proposal, Social Security will be needed to keep millions out of poverty.