24th Senate District candidates debate pension plans
As Illinois lawmakers wait to learn the legality of the pension reform plan signed into law last December by Gov. Pat Quinn, both candidates for the 24th Senate District seat have their own ideas about how to solve the state's $100 billion pension shortfall.
The plan Quinn signed into law would save roughly $145 billion over the next 30 years, supporters say, and fully fund the pension systems by 2044.
But unions filed suit, saying the law violates the Illinois Constitution.
Incumbent Chris Nybo, an Elmhurst Republican who took the seat in August, supports the pension plan that was signed into law and is being reviewed by the courts. It cuts how fast teachers' and state workers' pension benefits can grow every year and raises the retirement age, among other things.
"When we talk about doing pension reform, we need to talk about meaningful pension reform," Nybo said. "You can quibble with the numbers, but Senate Bill 1 will realize about $100 billion in savings. Senate Bill 1 is the genesis of the bill that I stepped up on back in December 2012 and said 'Hey, this idea has some merit.'"
Democratic challenger Suzanne Glowiak, a Western Springs village board member, is counting on the courts ruling against the plan and supports a proposal backed by union leaders last year, called the (Senate President John) Cullerton bill. It would give teachers and state workers a choice to keep most of their pension benefits but lose some access to state-supported health care in return.
"It doesn't save as much as Senate Bill 1, but Senate Bill 1 is going to be found unconstitutional. So, at that point, you need to start with something," she said. "If it's not constitutional, you need to get going immediately with something so you don't continue to get into that pension hole."
The Illinois Supreme Court this year ruled against a state cut to health care benefits in a ruling many see as evidence it will eventually overrule the state's pension cuts, too.
Nybo said pushback from the unions, including the Illinois Education Association, has made it difficult to achieve a bill not challenged in the courts.
"We have reached out to the teachers union and AFSCME and it's somewhat disingenuous when they say they are willing to help, but they don't step to the table and help us achieve a bill that will achieve meaningful savings," Nybo said. "We're talking about long-term indebtedness of over $100 billion. The Cullerton bill would be a drop in the bucket because it is about $41 billion saved. That's certainly not enough."
Glowiak, however, said the current plan doesn't require the state to actually contribute pension money. The Cullerton bill, she said, does.
"We have to make sure the required payments are made," she said.
If Senate Bill 1 is ultimately ruled unconstitutional by the end of the year, Nybo said he's willing to consider "alternative and creative" options.
"You can point to Puerto Rico, where they've passed a bill enabling certain public entities, which are not able to seek debt restructuring in federal courts, to go to the local courts to get their debt restructured," Nybo said. "I think that's the creative thinking I bring to this process. I don't just come in with talking points."
The 24th District includes all or parts of Clarendon Hills, Darien, Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn, Hinsdale, Lisle, Lombard, Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace, Villa Park, Westmont, Wheaton and Willowbrook.
• Daily Herald Political Editor Mike Riopell contributed to this report.