NIU Today

At 10 a.m. Wednesday, the Executive Committee of the Illinois State Senate heard testimony regarding House Bill 3076, which would apply technical elements similar to those presented in Senate Bill 1673, heard yesterday in the House, to the State Universities Retirement System. Additionally, the committee heard summaries of amendments to House Bills 1447 and 3865 before taking testimony in favor of...

A pension reform plan with significant implications for existing and retired state and university employees passed the House Personnel & Pensions Committee late this morning on a 6-3 vote. It now moves to the full House for consideration, possibly later today. Live video and audio is available. Briefly, SB 1673, House Amendment #3, shifts normal...

A pension reform plan outlined Thursday by House Speaker Michael Madigan would shift costs to universities, reduce cost-of-living-adjustments in retirement and offer a choice between accepting the lesser, Tier II cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) with access to the state’s retiree health care plan or maintaining the current COLA with a freeze on pay raises counting toward future...

In Springfield … Last week, both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly continued to move bills through committees and through third readings. However, the three big issues remaining are the FY 2013 appropriations, pension stabilization, and Medicaid reform and cuts. Most of the discussions on these three issues have taken place behind closed doors, but...

In Springfield … With only three weeks left before the scheduled May 31 adjournment of the Illinois General Assembly, there are three major issues still unresolved: the Fiscal Year 2013 budget, pension stabilization and Medicaid reform. FY2013 Budget The House Higher Education Appropriations Committee has been meeting frequently over the past several weeks to determine how...

Presidents and chancellors of public universities in the State of Illinois sent letters Thursday, May 3, to Gov. Pat Quinn as well as Illinois General Assembly leaders Michael Madigan, John Cullerton, Christine Radogno and Tom Cross. The letters outlined a statement of 10 objectives for stabilization of the State Universities Retirement System that is fair...

In Springfield … The majority of activity in both the Illinois Senate and Illinois House of Representatives last week and again this week will involve trying to move substantive bills through committees The deadline to get bills out of committee is Friday, May 4. House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 49 (HJRCA 49), sponsored by Speaker...

NIU President John G. Peters emailed this important message to faculty, staff and annuitants earlier today. Dear Colleagues, Friday afternoon Governor Quinn outlined the framework of his plan to resolve the state’s pension funding crisis. Briefly, the Governor’s proposal provides for 100% funding for pension systems by 2042 by making the following changes to the...

In Springfield … Last week, Gov. Pat Quinn released his plan for cutting the FY2013 Illinois Medicaid program by approximately $2.7 billion, the level of reductions he believes are needed to stabilize the Medicaid system in Illinois and prevent its collapse. There are three components to the governor’s plan: $2 billion (75 percent) reductions, a $1...

In Springfield … The Illinois General Assembly returns this week from a two-week spring break. Lawmakers are now scheduled in weekly until they are expected to convene by May 31. If they go past this deadline, a super-majority is required to pass any bill. Members of the Governor’s Work Group on Pension Reform is scheduled to...

In Springfield … The Illinois primary elections were held Tuesday, March 20. The elections results can be found on the Illinois Board of Elections website. The Illinois General Assembly was in session Wednesday through Friday of last week. Members of the House of Representatives approved HB 3810 (vote: 95 yes, 25 no, 2 present), introduced by...

In Springfield … Friday, March 9, was the deadline to get substantive bills reported out of committees in the chamber of origin, so it was a very busy week. On March 6, House Bill 5745, sponsored by Rep. Brandon Phelps, passed out of the House Agriculture & Conservation Committee. This bill would allow for concealed-carry in...