SPRINGFIELD - Being billed as a part of a compromise pension plan - with opposition from the We Are One union coalition and opposition from the pro-401 k Illinois Policy Institute and Illinois Opportunity Project, the Nekritz-Cross pension plan passed the Illinois House Thursday. HB 1165, sponsored in the House by Democrat Elaine Nekritz and Republican Leader Tom Cross, received praise and caution from colleagues just before the vote.
"There are things about this bill I really don't like, but I'm going to support it, and I'm going to ask everyone in this body to try to get behind this wonderful lady she is trying to do for the 13 million in this state," said Rep. Jim Sacia of Freeport.
"As Representative [Darlene] Senger said in caucus this morning, we do not have a sustainable system," Sacia said. "We've been talking about this for three years. {HB 1165] will save $100 billion - with a "B." I can't begin to praise Rep. Nekritz enough for the work she and the others have put into this effort."
HB 1165's Amendment 6 capped and froze COLAs, reducing their value by one-third. the We Are One Coalition argued. However, the issues covered in HB 1154, HB 1166, and HB 1165 are parts of a larger bill -- HB 3411, which is virtually identical to SB 35. HB 3411 was approved by House committee and could be called for a full House floor vote at any time, We Are One said on their website.
HB 1165 is likely to look different than it now does after being considered in the Illinois Senate, where State Senator Daniel Biss is expected to take up the bill.
Thursday's House vote on Amendment 6 was 68 for, 48 against, 1 present. Not only Democrats, but Republicans opposed HB 1165.
The final vote on HB 1165 was:
