I sold a pair of my shoes for IRTA.
What are yours worth?
Notice from
Illinois Retired Teachers Association:
“On Friday, December 27, the Illinois Retired
Teachers Association along with the Illinois Association of School
Administrators filed suit in Cook County Circuit Court challenging the
constitutionality of the new law that radically diminishes retired teachers
pension benefits.
The law firm of Tabet, DiVito & Rothstein
filed the lawsuit on behalf of the named plaintiffs and similarly situated
persons.
Among other allegations the attorneys for the
plaintiffs allege the new law (Public Act 98-0599) represents a clear violation
of the Illinois Pension Code as it protects the retirement benefits of all
retired educators, both retired and currently active.
The plaintiffs seek a declaration that P.A.
98-0599 is void in its entirety because it violates the Pension Protection
Clause of the Illinois Constitution.
The IRTA expects other aggrieved parties will
file similar challenges to the constitutionality of the new law.
To review the complaint in its entirety go
to irtaonline.org.”
On my off
days, which are less numerous than I thought when I retired, I work retail at a
little bird food store in Palos Park. I
get paid in bird seed – literally. By
the way, grains are as expensive as everything else nowadays, and this is just
one more reason for me to obsess on the continued thievery in the guise of
legality by the General Assembly and Governor Squeezy. It’s been an ethically irksome and morally
discouraging end of year.
 |
| Forget the wings, old man. |
I sometimes
picture particular legislators in
tailored suits beating the Jesus out of Clarence the angel on the snow-covered
bridge in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” while George Bailey and Old Man Potter
decide what 401 K instrument would be best for the former’s dismal prospects.
Even “…And
God Bless Everyone” has a hollow ring to it.
Yes, therapy
is included in one of my upcoming resolutions –anger management for sure.
Thank goodness for the IRTA.
Good for you too, even if you are still an active teacher reading this
and planning on retiring one of these days, years or decades. They refused to turn a blind eye to one more
attempt to siphon benefits away from those who have given and retired, those
who are giving now, and anyone else in Springfield who believes that the
Constitution is just so much insignificant nonsense.
Remember
outgoing president Elman’s exhortation at the IRTA Convention in Springfield,
this fall that “We will sell our shoes”
to fight against anything like this latest unconstitutional pension theft (SB1)
in the courts.
At work and
elsewhere now, I am drawn to footwear.
 |
| Really nice shoes, kid. |
Would you like some No-Mess seed with
that? (nice Uggs!) Happy Holidays,
Niece! (whoa, Benjamin Adams?) Glad to
help you, sir. (Magnanni’s?)
I received a
really nice letter from IRTA last week thanking me for my donation to the
defense fund. How ‘bout you?
Dear
Gary,
I
wear New Balance Heritage/992 running shoes that retail at $149.95. Please find enclosed a check for the IRTA
Defense Fund for $149.95.
My
hope is that my and your efforts will not only prove victorious in the battles
to come, but that we will also expose the kind of ethical, immoral, and fiscal
scapegoating of which so many are ignorant and so many are culpable.
Thanks
for all you do. All you have done. And your commitment to this upcoming battle.
May
the courts be with us,
John
Dillon
P.S.
I have more shoes in my closet.
If
you’d like to sell your shoes too, please do it now.
Send to your
checks to:
IRTA (mention Defense Fund on notation line of
check)
620 North
Walnut Street
Springfield,
IL 62702
No comments:
Post a Comment