JACKSON COUNTY RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION November 1, 2017

WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!

NEWS FROM THE IRTA CONVENTION OCTOBER 30/31

Seven members of JCRTA attended the biennial IRTA Conference in Springfield on October 30 and
31. The members were Marcia Allen, Julie Bohnsack, Gary Hartlieb, Mary Ann Horstmann, Jeanne
Korando, Charles McCann, and Anna Marie Burke-Smith. New IRTA ocers were elected and
several amendments to the IRTA Constitution were passed as well as a VERY IMPORTANT
resolution. (See Resolution on Page 2.)

The keynote address from John Fitzgerald, one of the IRTA attorneys from the firm that won the
Heaton v. Quinn case before the Illinois Supreme Court, outlined court opinions which support
protections for both the pensions and health insurance. His firm will continue to represent IRTA if
any further threats are made to our pensions or insurance.

STAY UPDATED AT: https://jcrta.weebly.com

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 JACKSON COUNTY RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION November 1, 2017

IRTA Resolution:

WHEREAS, in recent days, the Governor of Illinois has stated he will

be lobbying Congress to give him the power to change public
employee pension benefits, which he argues are overly generous;
and

WHEREAS, Governor Rauner believes the US House of

Representatives and the US Senate can release the state from the
pension protections provided under the Pension Protection Clause of
the Illinois Constitution by passing a law that would give states
permission to come up with cost-saving changes to their pension
programs; and

WHEREAS, The option would be available to states only after they

had established that spending money on workers retirement plans is
Jeanne Korando was recognized
hampering other essential services; and
as JCRTAs Unit Honoree.

WHEREAS, The Governor hopes to see these changes to allow him

to bypass the pension protection clause of the Constitution included
with the tax overhaul thats been anticipated as the next big issue A recent speech
to be taken up in Washington; and
to Chicago
WHEREAS. The IRTA Board of Directors urges the IRTAPAC Board of business leaders
Directors to consider endorsement of US House of Representatives
and US Senate Candidates; and

revealed hat
Governor Rauner
WHEREAS, the endorsement of candidates would be determined
based on their previous votes in oce and/or their position on issues is now trying to
specific to the interest of IRTA members and answers to a candidate get Congress to
questionnaire; and

give him the

WHEREAS, The endorsement process would also factor in a US
House of Representatives/US Senate Candidates position on Social
power to reduce
Security Pension Oset and Windfall Elimination Provision; and
YOUR pension!
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the Delegate Assembly of the
IRTA 2017 Convention concurs with the IRTA Board of Directors and YOU must be
allows the IRTAPAC Board of Directors to endorse US House of
Representatives and US Senate Candidates up for election from this ready to act
point forward.

quickly to
The resolution passed unanimously. contact
legislators if this
moves forward!
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