Illinois governor wants reform ideas considered as package

Gov. Bruce Rauner proposed a “comprehensive” plan Monday that includes $200 million in pension parity for Chicago Public Schools as well restricted workers’ compensation and local government control of collective bargaining.

The governor also proposes an additional $74 million for high-poverty school districts, as well the formation of a commission to study and suggest a new general state aid formula for Illinois schools.

He advocated Cullerton’s own plan, Senate Bill 318, which establishes a two-year local property tax freeze; has the state pick up a roughly $200 million payment for Chicago Public Schools; and changes the payment schedule or “ramp” for CPS.

But the legislation still would allow local governments to limit collective bargaining and force Chicago teachers to pay more for their pension benefits. “We think that’s critically important”. “And we’re asking the General Assembly to focus, let’s focus on one piece of legislation in good faith, and let’s get this done”.

John Patterson, a spokesman for Senate President John Cullerton, called Rauner’s bill “totally unacceptable”. Rauner, however, refused to answer questions about that – or anything else. Right now, we have done nothing. It doesn’t include term limits or voter redistricting but he says it does help Chicago Public Schools.

“It’s a recurring theme of connecting unrelated things”, said Raoul, who acts as a key negotiator on workers’ compensation issues. “It’s just going to be more unfair to a public employee who may have been legitimately injured on the job and you are going to deprive them of protections”.

“We’ve actually voted on most of the items that are contained in the new bill and majority have been pretty soundly defeated by both Democrat and Republican members of the House”, Mautino said.

He called on powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan to take up the bill in its entirety and urged individual lawmakers to vote for the best interests of their residents and not “for some higher power”.

Changes to the state’s worker’s compensation system, including a new “causation” standard, or standard by which an injury is deemed compensable because it is work-related.