Some Illinois lawmakers are already making plans for a new way to tackle the state’s unfunded retirement liabilities. That’s because their previous plan was struck down by a judge last week.
Judge John Belz says the law is unconstitutional because it reduces employees’ retirement benefits. John Cullerton is the Senate President. He’s pushed for a separate pension plan that would make state employees choose which retirement benefits they receive, which he argues would be legal.
“So if the Supreme Court throws out this bill as they’re likely to, we have an alternative. We have a back-up that will work.”
Illinois’ Attorney General’s office says it will appeal Friday’s ruling to the state Supreme Court. The governor’s office says the state has 105 billion dollars in pension debt.