The Illinois House has voted to borrow money to make their pension payments.  Deputy Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie (D) was quoted as saying that the state borrowing $1 billion would save $20 billion later.  Rep. Eddy (R) stated that the plan to borrow the money is essentially "kicking the can down the road " - and Rep. Eddy couldn't be more right.  Actually, the borrowing totals $4 billion.  We also got to see some political backroom dealing tonight.  David Miller (D) who originally voted against the borrowing package earlier in the evening, came out of a meeting with Mike Madigan and Gov. Quinn, and magically changed his mind.  Miller is running for State Comptroller.  He said the governor didn't promise him anything in return for his vote switch.   Maybe the Gov. Quinn didn't, but don't think Mike Madigan's Iron Fist didn't come down on Miller considering Madigan is not only the Speaker of the Illinois House, but also the chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party.  Want funding for your campaign?  Better play ball.  Want your bills to see their way to the House floor and get support?  Better play ball.  CapitolFax also has a great video of Gov. Quinn on the floor of the House during debate on the pension borrowing bill giving Minority Leader Tom Cross the evil eye and then some.  At the federal level, Congress wants to spend $165 billion of your tax money to bailout union pensions at companies jointly owned by unions and corporations. 

For years, Illinois has given away everything and the kitchen sink to pension payments, most of which are union pensions.  Don't remember the march last month of SEIU workers in Springfield? Don't remember SEIU marching demanding taxes being raised?  Here's some video via CaptiolFax.  The unions wanted  more money to save their jobs and their sweet benefit packages.  Fine, let the Illinois GA impose a hefty fee for belonging to a union and let them fund their own bloated benefits and wages, not the taxpayer.

Some were saying the state needed to raise taxes to fund schools, but maybe the state should re-examine how much money it has allowed to be tied up in TIF districts.

Let's get to the heart of the issue though.  Are pensions in Illinois set in stone?  Should Illinois pay up despite not being able to afford it's obligations?  Should the tax payer fund the burden of public employee pensions?

The answer to all those questions is no.  Everything is negotiable, so benefits are not set in stone.  When the unions strike or walk-out because a company won't budge, then everything is negotiable.  When unions are asked to negotiate, forget it.  Illinois cannot afford to keep handing out the money therefore, borrowing to make payments is not taking care of the situation.  Before you think we should pay more for public employee union pensions, consider this...

We were at my father's retirement party last weekend (retired at 63, no pension to speak of. *gasp* he saved for his own retirement?), and there was a guy there that is in a public employee union.  We decided to leave politics at the door and this guy was trying to get a rise out of us.  He stated, "I'm going to retire at 55 and you are going to pay for my pension whether you like it or not".  Amazing.  Anecdotal?  Take this guy's statement and add it to the SEIU march on Springfield.  Now it's typical.  What the public employee unions don't get is that their liberal benefits are doomed.  Why would they be in denial?  Look at who controls the state and the White House! 

The Obama administration has wanted to institute Card Check, fired GM CEO Rick Wagoner but left UAW President Ron Gettlefinger stays and his union gets 60% control of GM, and now his minions in Congress want to bailout union pensions with US taxpayer money.  On the state level, Gov. Quinn just vetoed a bill that would have seriously reformed McCormick Place in Chicago, slashing unions employees, duties and pay opportunities (you know, having to call someone down to plug in a refrigerator).  Gov. Quinn didn't take the veto too lightly though.  It took several thousand dollars worth of campaign contributions to help Quinn decide he didn't like the reforms in the McPier bill.  Ahh, you have to love Illinois politics.  Everything is for sale in this state.  Governor's signatures, Senate seats, you name it!

In closing, the pension borrowing plan was a bad idea.  We are essentially robbing Peter to pay Paul.  Who's Peter?  You, me, my kids, and your kids.  One of these days, that can we keep kicking down the road is going to start kicking back.

UPDATED AT 1:10PM 5-28-10:  Gov. Quinn's amendatory veto on the McPier bill has been overridden by the General Assembly.