Illinois politicians used to move allies into higher-paying positions at the end of their careers. The practice allowed many a heftier pension.
Governor Pat Quinn just elevated his budget director and longtime friend, Jerry Stermer to comptroller. But Stermer should not see a change in his state pension and says he's not interested in it.
But the head of the a state retirement fund, Tim Blair, says Stermer won't be comptroller long enough, he has agreed to resign on January 12th.
"This service couldn't even be included in the calculation of the pension unless there is at least two years' service, in the General Assembly's Retirement System, which there will not be."
Blair also says Stermer's salary would be above the cap on the amount that figures into his pension.
Quinn says he choose Stermer because he shares many of the same values as the late Comptroller Judy BaarTopinka.
