Legislative Wrap Up For 2011 Spring Session

6/1/2011

Thanks to your efforts, we emerged from this session in better shape than almost anyone would have predicted a few months ago.

Here are a few of the highlights:

•  Passage of SB 7, an agreed-to Education Reform package that
    received national acclaim while avoiding severe proposals sought
    by reform groups.

•  Defeat of SB 512, outrageous and unconstitutional pension proposals.

•  Defeat of private school vouchers, SB 1932, in the Senate after
    passage in that chamber last year. 

•  Defeat of late efforts to phase out state funding for the College
   Insurance Program while including City Colleges retirees in the same plan.

•  Passage of a "trailer bill" that provided important clean up language to
   the Education Reform package in SB 7.

•  Passage of a resolution creating a "student bill of rights."

•  Passage of SB 1578, an IFT drafted bill that provides additional training
   opportunities for PSRPs statewide.

•  Passage of major worker's compensation reforms.

•  Defeat of collective bargaining proposals that would have eliminated
   bargaining rights for thousands of state employees including many
   already in established bargaining units.

•  Survival of a another very tough budget year with a 3% cut in
   funding for General State Aid for schools.

•  Defeat of a proposal to drastically increase health insurance rates
   for thousands of retired state and university employees, some by
   thousands of dollars per year.

Many of these proposals will resurface and will require ongoing efforts over the coming months. At this time the fall veto session is scheduled to begin in late October, but Cullerton has said the legislature may be called back earlier than that.

Please continue to visit the IFT Web site for the most current legislative information.