by Diane Benjamin

First, Mike Madigan is behind the Amendment.  This amendment is based on a bill passed by the Illinois  House and Senate overwhelmingly last May: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?GAID=11&GA=97&DocNum=49&DocTypeID=HJRCA&SessionID=84&LegID=67098&SpecSess=&Session=

This amendment concentrates monetary power in Springfield.   Here is a 2 page summary

More Information at:  http://www.suaa.org/assets/pdf/ImpairmentProvision.pdf?PHPSESSID=8cc7ec3dabdfdd7286d960220b1225ec

Also:  http://www.ilretirementsecurity.org/reports?id=0062

Summary:

• Mike Madigan is behind placing a Constitutional amendment on the November ballot
• The amendment concentrates monetary power with the same people who bankrupted Illinois
• This amendment appears to over-ride the current Constitution which states no changes can be made to the pension system for persons already in it
• Is Speaker Madigan attempting to reform the pension systems without a court fight? Or, is it a power grab?

Quote from the couriernews.suntimes article:  “Instead of concentrating more power in Springfield’s legislative leadership, taxpayers should consider simply rejecting Amendment 49 as just more deceptive legislative legerdemain.”

Anytime a politician tries flowery language to get a YES vote on a not previously disclosed ballot initiative, it should be voted NO.  Maybe Mike just didn’t want the unions and other Democrats to know.

Also see this post: http://blnnews.com/2012/09/18/more-on-amendment-49-public-unions-beware/