Illinois Policy Institute - MEDIA ALERT: Illinois Policy Institute experts available to talk pension reform

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MEDIA ALERT: Illinois Policy Institute experts available to talk pension reform

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8/17/2012

MEDIA ALERT
from the ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE

MEDIA CONTACT: Diana Rickert 
Diana@IllinoisPolicy.org or (312) 607-4977   

Illinois Policy Institute experts available to talk pension reform

State lawmakers back in Springfield today; expectations low
Experts available in Chicago and Springfield

WHAT: Gov. Quinn has called lawmakers back to Springfield to tackle Illinois' mounting pension debt. However, it's unlikely that lawmakers will make any progress on pension reform. One of the proposals on the table, House Bill 1447, only addresses 2 percent of Illinois' $203 billion retirement debt problem. Each Illinois family's share of that debt is $41,000, which means this proposal would save the average family only $820. Other proposals fail to address the enormity of Illinois' pension problem.

WHERE: The Illinois Policy Institute has spokespeople available in Chicago and Springfield all day today:

IN CHICAGO….
John Tillman, CEO of Illinois Policy Institute

IN SPRINGFIELD….
Ted Dabrowski, Vice President of Policy at Illinois Policy Institute
Jonathan Ingram, policy analyst at Illinois Policy Institute

WHEN: Experts are available all day today.

TALKING POINTS:

As evidenced by Wednesday's booing at Gov. Quinn at the Illinois State Fair, government unions will paint any attempt at reform – even fake reform – as too extreme. Gov. Quinn will portray himself in the media as an aggressive, reforming savior risking his political career for the sake of Illinois taxpayers. But this is fiction, and if this fiction is played out then the legislature will pass tepid reforms, leaving in place the broken system that continues to bankrupt the state.

Across state and local governments, Illinois taxpayers are on the hook for more than $203 billion in government retirement-related debt. Because Illinois' investment return expectations are unrealistic, this figure soon will become several times higher once these investment returns are adjusted.

71 cents out of every new dollar for education is spent on pensions.

Pension reform "framework" proposed by government employee unions is a non-starter and just bluffing.

For interviews, contact: Diana Rickert (312) 607-4977

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The Illinois Policy Institute is a nonpartisan research and education organization dedicated to making Illinois a beacon for liberty and prosperity for all citizens. As a leading voice for economic liberty and government accountability, the Institute engages policy makers, opinion leaders and citizens on the state and local level by promoting free market principles and liberty-based public policy initiatives for a better Illinois. To learn more about the Institute or review policy briefs, please visit: illinoispolicy.org.