NIU Today

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...

NIU President John G. Peters emailed this message to the campus Wednesday, Feb. 29. Colleagues, As part of our ongoing efforts to provide you with timely information regarding proposed changes to our pension plans, the university will host a town hall-style meeting at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 7, in the Carl Sandburg Auditorium of the...

Northern Illinois University’s updated State Pension & Budget Update website debuts Feb. 22 in conjunction with Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget address. The governor’s address traditionally begins the budget process in the State of Illinois. The updated website includes a link to view or listen to the governor’s budget speech, pension reform information and updates as...

In Springfield … This will be a very busy week in Springfield. Gov. Pat Quinn will give his Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Message at noon Wednesday, Feb. 22. You will recall that in his Feb. 1 State of the State message, he talked about his desire to eliminate a tax on natural cost (at an...

In Springfield … On January 30, 2012, the Institute for Illinois’ Financial Sustainability at the Civic Federation issued a report, “State of Illinois FY2013 Budget Roadmap: State of Illinois Budget Overview, Projections and Recommendations for the Governor and General Assembly.” The report states that, “given rising Medicaid and pension costs and the scheduled partial sunset of...

In Springfield … The Illinois General Assembly finished its second week of the scheduled fall veto session Thursday, Nov. 10. However, the House of Representatives has been called back Tuesday, Nov. 29, to deal with some large, outstanding issues. We are uncertain at this time if the Senate also will be called back. Senate Bill 512,...

The House Personnel and Pension Committee endorsed SB 512 on a 5-4 vote Tuesday evening, sending the bill to the House floor for consideration. The bill would create three different “tiers” of pension benefits and costs, some of which would compel employees to pay significantly more; another that would offer reduced benefits; and a third...

NIU President John Peters joined other university presidents and chancellors from around the state Thursday in signing a letter sent to Gov. Pat Quinn that outlines their objections to proposed changes in the state pension system. “Senate Bill 512, backed by the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago, is but one approach. As...

State Rep. Bob Pritchard vowed Thursday that he would not support a proposed pension reform bill that could come up for a vote as early as next week. “I will be a no vote on SB 512, and I will urge my colleagues to also vote no,” said Pritchard (R-Hinckley), whose district includes DeKalb. His...

In Springfield … The Illinois General Assembly convened for the first week of the fall veto session, which began Oct. 25. It was a tough week for Gov. Pat Quinn, with the General Assembly taking the following actions: Collective bargaining House Speaker Michael Madigan introduced HJR 45, which seeks to involve the General Assembly in...

NIU’s Operating Staff Council will host State Rep. Robert Pritchard at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 3. The Republican legislator from Hinckley will gather with the group in the Carl Sandburg Auditorium of the Holmes Student Center to address issues related to the ongoing debate in Springfield regarding pension reform. This meeting was previously scheduled for the...