BLAME THE FIREMEN

From FOP Lodge 7:

PENSION PORTABILITY PROGRESS 06/02/08

The language for the Pension Portability issue that we have been working on for the past 6 years was attached as an amendment to SB2520 last Wednesday, May 28th and sent to the Rules Committee. On the 29th it was sent from Rules to Personnel and Pensions. On the 30th, Personnel and Pensions voted in favor of it unanimously. In the meantime three other amendments were added to the bill, the last being by Local 2, Chicago Firefighters which stalled the entire bill in being called up for a vote. By the time it did get called up it was at 2200 hours on the 31st and was voted in favor almost straight down party lines. This happens all too often in the last hours as nobody is playing well with each other and others who see the potential for a Pension Bill to move will jump on board often causing the legislation to sink. As I said it passed out at 2200 hours, unfortunately the Senate, which needed to concur on the “amendments,” had already adjourned for the session. So we are now in a position that requires the Senate to vote on concurrence before the bill can be sent to the Governor for his signature. This can happen if the Senate is called back in over the summer as is being discussed, or in the veto session in November. After all that was done to get the City, the Pension Board and members of the legislature to agree to our language, it is disappointing that our issue has failed to pass. Actions are under way to ensure its passage as soon as we can get it back into the Senate, but this delay should not have been allowed to happen.

Like little children....Me Too!