Every 20 years, Illinois citizens must be asked whether or not to hold an Illinois state constitutional convention, often referred to as “Con-Con.”

The last time voters were presented with that option in 1988, they rejected the notion, voting against calling a delegate convention to write a new state constitution for Illinois.

In 2008, voters will again be asked if a constitutional convention should be called, and once again, the answer should be “no.”

Change by amendment, not a new document

In 1968, voters approved a Con-Con to replace a clearly inadequate constitutional document that was over 100 years old.

Supporters of Con-Con claim they need a constitutional convention to ad dress serious issues like school funding and pensions that the legislature seems unable to resolve.

Narrow, specific issues can, and should, be addressed by elected representatives in the Illinois General Assembly using the broad authority granted in the constitution. On comprehensive issues like school funding which affect everyone, the constitution can be amended.

Supporters of Con-Con neglect to mention that the state constitution can be changed, one amendment at a time by the voters, without a full¬scale rewrite of the constitution. In fact 10 amendments have been added by voter approval since 1970.

Con-Con may further delay school funding reform

Of course the state must do more to fund public education, from preschool to higher education. Legislators have thus far lacked the will to enact meaningful funding reform. But if the question of how to adequately fund schools is deferred to Con-Con delegates, the effect could be a further delay in finding a solution, possibly for several more years.

From the 1968 voter approval of a Con-Con, voters did not get to vote on a new constitution until 1970. The new constitution did not take effect until 1971, and most new laws resulting from those changes were not effective until 1972.

“If voters in 2008 approve a Con-Con, the time for electing 118 Con-Con delegates would be decided by the General Assembly in Spring, 2009. The convention would start within three months of delegate elections. But there is no timetable for how long a convention can take. Changes to school funding could be bogged down until at least 2011,” said IFT Director of Political Activities Steve Preckwinkle.

Schools face a crisis now. We cannot allow legislators to avoid their responsibilities. Con-Con gives them another excuse to put off a decision. Further delays in solving the funding inadequacies are neither strategically nor politically wise. The fact is that strong regional differences remain among Illinoisans over how to change the way we fund our schools. Those differences are no more likely to be resolved through a Con-Con than through the state legislature. What we need is leadership,” Preckwinkle added.

Pension security could be lost

Another issue that could be addressed by a constitutional convention is pensions. Currently, Article 13, Section 5 of the Illinois Constitution prevents cuts in benefits to Illinois public pension recipients. A Con-Con would jeopardize those protections at a time when public pension systems are under repeated attack by those who want to shift the state's defined benefit plans into 403 (B) accounts.

“If voters approve a Con-Con, no article in the Illinois Constitution is safe,” said Preckwinkle. “Anything and every¬thing can be changed, and the changes might be something we are dead set against. In 1970, delegate selection was non-partisan and only two members of the general assembly were elected in a special delegate election.

Even though our members did not cause the multi-billion pension debt our state now faces, who believes our pension protections would not come under attack in a new Con-Con?” he questioned.

The 1970 constitution has been modified with 10 amendments added one-by-one. It is still serving us well, despite today's sour political climate and mistrust of voters toward all things-Springfield.

The IFT Executive Board is on the record in opposition to a constitutional convention. On Dec. 11, 2007, the board adopted the following resolution  that commits the IFT to work to educate voters that a constitutional convention is “unnecessary and unwise.”