Bill Daley In Attack Mode, Blasts Quinn, Lisa Madigan On Pension Reform
By Chuck Sudo in News on Jun 17, 2013 5:45PM
Photo credit: Handout/Getty images
This morning, Daley’s campaign unveiled a three-point plan to cut through the tumbleweed of Illinois’ underfunded pensions and made it clear he believes SB 1, the plan endorsed by House Speaker Michael Madigan, should be the one the state Legislature passes when they convene for their special session June 19. Daley had good words to say about the Senate’s counterproposal, SB 20404. “Senate Bill 2404 was written with good intentions, but it is simply another band-aid that will not solve the problem, he said. “There is a solid legal case that it is no more constitutional than Senate Bill 1. The only real difference is that Senate Bill 1 goes three times farther toward solving the problem.”
Daley suggested giving senators something to vote for with SB 1, such as a portion of the estimated $2.5 billion in reduced pension contributions—approximately 51 percent—be earmarked for new legislation for public education funding.
Daley saved his harshest words for Quinn and Lisa Madigan, who he blamed for not showing leadership in making a legal argument that SB 1 can withstand a legal challenge as well as SB 2404.
“Governor Quinn failed to make the case that Senate Bill 1 is constitutional. Attorney General Madigan, who has publicly opined on other constitutional issues she may later defend, has refused to say anything other than she would support doing something. That’s not leadership,” said Daley.
“If Attorney General Madigan can’t provide a full legal opinion without a formal request from the Governor or the legislature, they should make that request right away,” added Daley.
Daley added, “Governor Quinn has failed to lead, maintaining over and over again that it’s the legislature’s job to pass the bill, and his job to merely sign it. That’s not leadership, that’s a cop out.”