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Illinois Governor Pat Quinn delivered his first budget address to the General Assembly on March 18. He called for a much-needed income tax increase, but asked public employees to bear the brunt of cuts to address the state's burgeoning $11.6 billion deficit.

The governor's plan proposes several changes to the state's funded pension programs- the downstate Teachers Retirement System (TRS), State Universities’ Retirement System (SURS) and State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS). The governor is asking for a two percent increase in active employee contributions with no changes in benefits and the establishment of a new lower tier of benefits for new hires. The governor's plan would require state employees to take four furlough days, and would increase health care contributions from state employees and retirees.

Write your legislators today to urge them to oppose changes to public pension systems.