Real reasons for pension crisis

Mike Davitt claims the teacher pension crisis is caused by teachers having the option to strike and receiving overly generous benefits. Mr. Davitt does not appear to understand or didn't bother to research his July 14 Fence Post editorial. This is a fallacy. The pension for teachers is in crisis due to decades of insufficient state funding.

Active TRS members pay 9.4 percent of their earnings into TRS. This is among the highest in the nation. They should be able to draw from the money they have contributed, no matter how large or how small. In addition, the state of Illinois and the governor have been illegally borrowing (I say stealing) teacher pension funds for years to fund other crises.

Many people do not realize that teachers are not eligible to receive Social Security. Even if you have earned Social Security from previous jobs, once you get a teaching position you give up all earned Social Security benefits.

Raises may seem out of line when compared to other professions. However, teachers make less than many professionals with the same amount of education.

Those, Mr. Davitt, are the problems, not the fact that teachers have the ability to strike in order to get what they need. It is up to the government and governor that mismanaged the funds to provide the solution. How would you feel if the state was borrowing from your 401K funds without your permission?

Stephen Irmick

Naperville