On the Ballot: Voters to Decide on Illinois Pension Amendment

A long-winded explanation for an even longer constitutional amendment is confusing some early voters, officials say, but the ballot measure boils down to a change in the way pension benefits can be increased.

You might be in for a surprise when you head to the polls on Nov. 6 if you haven’t taken a look at a sample ballot (you can see one here by entering your address and clicking "view sample ballot") or perused the 2012 Voter Information Guide you got in the mail from the Will County Clerk’s office. So what’s on the ballot? The proposition seeks voter approval to amend the 1970 Illinois Constitution to require a three-fifths majority vote—rather than just a simple majority—before any governing body can approve a pension benefit increase. That goes for the Illinois General Assembly, local school districts, police or any unit of local government. A “yes” vote is a vote in favor of making the change; a “no” vote indicates opposition to the …

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Patch on Politics

Pension Foes Allied Against Constitutional Amendment

Pension-related amendment to state constitution on Nov. 6 ballot is confusing, catastrophic and fake reform, say foes and legal experts. What you need to know before you vote.

By Jayette Bolinski, Illinois Watchdog SPRINGFIELD — Opposition to a proposed pension-related constitutional amendment that will go before Illinois voters Nov. 6 is creating strange bedfellows — from public employee unions to good-government groups that agree the question is not worthy of a change to the state’s constitution and does nothing to address the pension crisis.  Groups opposed to the amendment are numerous and come from all walks of life. It’s no surprise that public-employee unions are opposed to the amendment, which requires a three-fifths majority vote before any public body can approve a pension benefit increase. Good-government groups, such as the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability and the Illinois Policy Institute, …

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