From: "Communication" <communication@codretirees.org>
Subject: Message from Steve Mansfield
Date: June 7th 2010

CDAA Members,

The Illinois Senate failed to approve the bill (already approved by the House) that would permit the state to borrow the money to provide for making/funding fiscal year 2011 pension payment. As explicated in my message of May 25, failure to fully fund the pensions (i.e. another “pension holiday”) will further add to the Illinois Fiscal Crisis.

The situation in Springfield…..the Democratic Senate (Cullerton—majority leader) needs one more “yes” vote in order to approve the bill. Currently, two Democrat and all Republican senators have voted “no.” There are a handful of Republican senators who seem to appreciate the fiscal and moral reasons for supporting the bill. However, the Republican party is exerting extreme pressure on these senators to maintain party unity by opposing the bill. Two of the senators who have indicated an inclination to support the bill are Dan Cronin and Randy Hultgren (senate districts 21 & 48 respectively.) Both senators reside in COD district and represent many of our members. They have good voting records, and senator Cronin has been a proponent of positive education related legislation. Neither of the senators is running for reelection (in the Illinois senate.)

For those of you residing in districts 21 or 48, please take a few minutes to visit, telephone, or send a letter/e-mail to your senator and request that he support the legislation to make the payment to the pension funds. Remind them that “pension holidays” are what led to the pension funding crisis we are confronting today. Also be sure to note that you are a COD employee/retiree and a member of the State Universities Annuitants Association. It won’t hurt to thank them for their past support of COD. We need one or both of their votes.

Attached is a list (there may be a couple of errors, but this is the best I can do for now—let me know of corrections) of our members residing in districts 21 and 48.

If each of these senators hear from 15 to 20 of our members, we may convince them that their “yes” votes are the “right” votes.

Thank you,

Steve Mansfield (let me know if you have additional questions)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. (this was my message from May 25—if you previously sent this message, you may modify (e.g. I again respectively urge you………))

To find your state representative, go to www.elections.state.il.us, click on top row “Voters”, at Voters Information section, click on “Elected Officials That Represent Me”

Enter either your home address or select the zip+4 tab.

Send your message to both your state senator and representative.

(sample message)

Dear Senator xxxxx,

I respectively urge you to support legislative efforts (i.e. pension obligation bonds) to make the pension payment for fiscal year 2011. I’m certain you understand and appreciate the future fiscal savings to the state by making the payment now. Skipping or delaying the payment only further exacerbates the Illinois fiscal crisis.

I also want to thank you for the support you have provided to the College of DuPage during your tenure as State Senator.

Best regards,

Xxxxx xxxxxxx
State Universities Retiree Association member (I can be reached at xxx-xxx-xxxx)

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