Retired Illinois Teachers Sue To Stop Pension Reform

No state has a worse public pension crisis than Illinois and for years lawmakers have found it impossible to agree upon what to do about it all. This legislative session some agreements were finally hammered out to address the crisis. But now the state's retired teachers are going to court, suing to stop even those tepid reforms.

Despite that for more than a decade Illinois Democrats have had a lock on control of both the legislature and the governor's mansion, lawmakers have had much trouble trying to solve the mounting $100 billion deficit. And even with these new agreements, one hurdle stands in lawmakers' way; the state constitution.

Years ago Democrats and unions were able to add an amendment to the state constitution that would forbid any changes to pension promises. It is this clause that the teachers are citing as a reason that the new reforms must be halted.

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