Pension consolidation bill sent to governor

Posted on November 14, 2019
Illinois Capitol
The bill passed the Senate by a wide margin. (WJBC file photo)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker tallied a big win on the last day of the fall veto session.

The Senate passed a pension consolidation bill one day after the House did so. Both chambers made it a bipartisan show.

The bill combines the funds of 649 downstate police and fire pension funds into one fund for police and one for fire.

“There was a lot of goodwill on all sides, there were concerns,” Pritzker said at a news conference in his office after the vote Thursday. “People came to the table they were willing to work those concerns out i would say if you were to ask everybody that was involved in this, how do you feel, their answer is, OK! When you’re trying to reach compromise, there is both giving and taking.”

State Sen. Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) suggested his colleagues ask their constituents, “How many of you trust Springfield with your pension money?”

SB 1300 has passed the Senate, 42-12, and goes to the governor.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]. 

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