"Two lobbyists with no prior teaching experience were allowed to count their years as union employees toward a state teacher pension once they served a single day of subbing in 2007 … Over the course of their lifetimes, both men stand to receive more than a million dollars each from a state pension fund that has less than half of the assets it needs to cover promises made to tens of thousands of public school teachers. … The revelation that one day of substitute teaching allowed officials from a state teachers union to tap into an ailing public pension fund is yet another example of how the Illinois pension system has been manipulated for political purposes and personal gain."
Mike Madigan and John Cullerton have directed the process that has led to Illinois public pensions being among the most troubled in America. The pension plans have been further damaged by revelations that a few politically connected lobbyists and union officials have been allowed in the public pensions systems with Madigan and Cullerton's help. So far, any solutions offered by Madigan and Cullerton are along the lines of Cullerton's suggestion that the state tax public pensions. To summarize, Madigan and Cullerton reward their associates on the public dime, then want to punish people who played fair to fix things.
The Tribune has been focusing on Madigan and Cullerton lately. It's about time.
Read more: The Corruption You See, The Doomsday You Don't Chicago Tribune
Read more: Rich Pension for One Day's Work Chicago Tribune
