Sims Opposes Leader's Pension Proposal
SPRINGFIELD, IL --- Today, the Illinois General Assembly met in Special Session to consider sweeping changes to the state's pension systems. The measure passed despite opposition from several lawmakers including State Representative Elgie Sims (D - Chicago). Sims issued the following statement regarding the proposal crafted by the legislative leaders and supported by the Governor.
"Since my election to the Illinois House of Representatives a little more than one year ago, I promised the citizens of the 34th District that pension reform is one of my top priorities and I have worked with members on both sides of the aisle to reach a workable solution that is in the state's best interest.
I extensively studied the contents Senate Bill 1, discussed it with colleagues who helped to craft it and calculated its impact on affected stakeholders. While the proposal passed by the Illinois General Assembly will save a significant amount of money, in my opinion, those savings come at the expense of those who faithfully paid into the state's pension systems.
Ultimately, I made the decision that I could not support Senate Bill 1 because its impact on lower and middle class workers was too great and it failed to meet several critical tests. First, the process lacked transparency and an opportunity for a full public dialogue on all elements of the proposal. Additionally, key stakeholders were left out of the process and finally, the constitutionality of the proposal is questionable at best. The constitutional question alone will undoubtedly result in additional costs to taxpayers from litigation associated with the proposal.
Illinois' pension crisis was not created overnight, it is a crisis three decades in the making, one that is the result of actions by governors and legislators of both political parties and one requiring that all parties solve the problem together. Until there is a workable solution to our state's pension problems we will be unable to move our state or its economic viability forward. I remain optimistic that a solution that provides protections for taxpayers and retirees and better meets constitutional requirements can be done, but the bill passed by the Illinois General Assembly today is not it and I believe that our work continues."
Sims represents the 34th Illinois House District, which includes portions of the South Side of Chicago, Chicago's south suburbs, and Will and Kankakee counties.
