Lawmaker Considers Illinois Pension Back-up Plan

Jim Anderson -- Illinois Radio Network

A state lawmaker is looking at Plan B, in case the pension restructuring enacted last year is struck down in court.

The state must find a way to keep pension benefits from growing, because it’ll never be able to come up with the money to fulfill its promises, says State Sen. Matt Murphy (R-Palatine).  So if the court says the new law is unconstitutional?

“I think you’re gonna have to look at a constitutional amendment, because you’re not coming up with $100 billion,” he said.

At issue would be the clause in the Constitution saying that a state pension cannot be diminished or impaired.  An amendment might specify that that applies to the accrual rate, but not to cost-of-living adjustments or other escalators.

How would that go?  “Well, it’d be fascinating to see.  I’m sure the unions would put a little bit of money in on trying to defeat such an initiative,” he said.

A lawsuit challenging the pension law will be heard this year in Springfield, and it is expected to quickly rise to the Illinois Supreme Court.  The law cuts the automatic 3 percent raise that pension beneficiaries receive, and it raises the retirement age for enrolled workers age 45 and younger.