Letter: League of Women Voters Opposes Illinois Pension Amendment

Downers Grove Patch accepts letters to the editor, which will be posted on the site weekly.

The following was submitted by Lisle resident Jeff Gimm in DuPage County Forest Preserve District 2 candidate Don Kirchenberg.

If you're interested in submitting a letter, e-mail Downers Grove Patch Editor Amanda Luevano at amanda@patch.com.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

To the Editor, Downers Grove Patch:

On Nov. 6, Illinois voters will vote on a proposal to amend the Illinois Constitution to require a 3/5 majority vote in order to increase a benefit under any public pension or retirement system. Raising such a benefit would require a 3/5 majority vote in each chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, as well as in the governing bodies of any unit of local government, school district, or pension or retirement system.

The League of Women Voters of Illinois opposes this proposal and urges voters to vote no.

The League of Women Voters strongly supports governmental systems that are transparent, representative, accountable and responsive. By requiring a super majority, this amendment, if passed, would strip the deliberative decision-making authority of governmental units and cede that authority to the minority. The League agrees with the Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure that “whenever a vote of more than a majority is required to take an action, control is taken from the majority and given to the minority. The higher the vote required, the smaller the minority to which control passes.”

Further, it is the League’s position that the Constitution is not the proper place to remedy a larger problem with a narrow, single solution. If the General Assembly thinks this provision is necessary, it should consider introducing and passing legislation to modify the existing statute, not codifying it in the Constitution.

The blue book that voters received from the Illinois Secretary of State provides the language of the amendment. We encourage voters to take a look at it, reflect on the League position and consider this amendment’s effect when they vote on Nov. 6. 

Co-Presidents Peggy Healy and Hilary Denk

League of Women Voters of Downers Grove/Woodridge/Lisle

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

There are plenty of ways to keep up on Downers Grove news:

• Sign up for our daily email newsletter

• Like us on Facebook for a slightly different take.