Will we cut benefits for lawmakers, too?

Recently, there have been many articles and suggestions put forth about the “new reality” regarding the Teachers’ Retirement System and how to fund the system. The TRS has been neglected by our legislators for decades. Several proposed solutions include suspending the 3 percent annual increase to retirees (similar to what occurred in Rhode Island), putting forth a three-tiered system, increasing the retirement age, and increasing health insurance rates for retired educators.

I put forth two questions to my state representative, Michelle Mussman: First, do legislators receive annual increases in their pensions from the state of Illinois? The answer was yes, General Assembly members elected before Jan. 1, 2011, receive a 3 percent compounded cost-of-living adjustment. Members elected after Jan. 1, 2011, receive a Consumer Price Increase or 3 percent, whichever is less.

My second question was in regard to health insurance. Do retired legislators pay a premium for their health coverage? The answer was no, GA members receive no cost health insurance after only four years of service.

My point is, will legislators who are retired and failed to fund the Teachers’ Retirement System over the last several decades be included in the “new reality” proposed by Gov. Pat Quinn and his committee on pension reform? Will similar reforms affect the General Assembly, or will these changes be only applicable to the Teachers’ Retirement System?

Roger Thomas Seely

Schaumburg