The state pension clause

I was intrigued that the Daily Herald mentioned in the "World & Nation in 60 Seconds" recently that Illinois is one of 25 states that provide citizens provisions to amend the state constitution and to enact and repeal laws. They can bypass the legislature to do this. After reading and rereading that statement, I kept thinking that the residents of Illinois can't possibly know about this provision that was inserted in the 1970 Illinois Constitution.

I say that because every state resident is aware of the infamous pension clause that state pensions cannot be reduced or diminished. The legislature has been unwilling or unable to tackle this clause in the state constitution. So if the legislature is unable, what is stopping any Illinois resident from amending the State constitution? Maybe they don't know they are capable and allowed to do so by the 1970 constitution?

Terry L. Hardekopf

Mundelein