WCMY|Watchdog group lists pension payouts to former lawmakers

By on February 18, 2016   /   Illinois Press, Latest, Pension Reform, Press  

TUA president and founder, Jim Tobin, was quoted by WCMY radio , about the recent Illinois General Assembly Retirees’ pension release.

Chicago — Taxpayers United of America says the Illinois legislature’s generous pensions have a lot do with why the state is broke. The organization announced Tuesday, its analysis of pension contributions and payouts shows the average former lawmaker has paid in less than $53,000 but will get about $1.3 million back in retirement. The organization says the General Assembly system is not about poor civil servants and fairness.
Among the local examples on the group’s list:

  • Former St. Rep. Peg Breslin who later served as an appellate court judge paid in $60,000 and gets almost twice that every year for a pension. She has received $1.2 million so far.
  • Former St. Rep. Pat Welch paid in $129,000 and has been paid $810,000 so far on his way to a projected $2.8 million.
  • Former St. Rep. Tom Walsh, now a LaSalle County Board member put in $91,000 and has received nearly $1 million so far.
  • Dennis Hastert, who went on to serve in the U.S. House including a period as the House Speaker, paid in just $19,000 to get $28,000 per year and $413,000 so far.
  • Former St. Sen. Gary Dahl paid in just under $50,000 and has received $115,000 so far.

Excerpted data from TUA’s list released Tuesday.

Illinois General Assembly retirees’ pensions as of January 27, 2016
reported by Taxpayers United of America
Projections assume life expectancy of 85 and 3% cost of living adjustment compounded annually
Name Current Annual Pension Member Contributions to Pension Fund Age at Retirement Total Pension Collected to Date Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout Employee Contribution % of Estimated Lifetime Payout
Peg M. Breslin  $ 112,754  $  60,556 56  $ 1,220,719.79  $ 3,317,816 1.8%
Patrick D. Welch  $  85,533  $ 129,138 56  $  810,456.80  $ 2,813,172 4.6%
Tom P. Walsh  $  59,099  $  91,139 55  $  994,563.35  $ 1,447,408 6.3%
J. Dennis Hastert  $  28,026  $  19,806 55  $  413,518.22  $  772,468 2.6%
Gary G. Dahl  $  24,465  $  49,965 70  $  115,274.13  $  363,819 13.7%

 

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Premier Broadcasting|McCarter Earns Endorsement from Taxpayer Watchdog Group

By on February 8, 2016   /   Illinois Press, Latest  

TUA president and founder, Jim Tobin, was quoted by Premier Broadcasting about Tax Accountability, Taxpayers United of America’s political action arm, endorsing State Senator Kyle McCarter for Congress.

State Senator and candidate for Congress Kyle McCarter secured another endorsement of his 2016 campaign to restore America’s promise through reform and a return to the nation’ founding principles.
In its endorsement of Senator McCarter, Taxpayers United of America’s political action arm – Tax Accountability – drew attention to McCarter’s record defending taxpayers.
“Kyle’s record in office has proven that he is a true champion of Illinois taxpayers, having recently received the highest pro-taxpayer rating in the thirty-two years we’ve conducted our biennial tax survey of the Illinois General Assembly.”
“The tax burden for Americans is on the rise as establishment politicians of both parties grow government beyond our ability to pay for it,” said McCarter. “Higher taxes take money away from families to care for themselves, to pay for college and save for the future. Our employers are dealing with the highest corporate tax rate among the industrialized nations in the world. That makes it harder to compete in the global economy and it means fewer opportunities to expand businesses in America and employ Americans.”
Tax Accountability said McCarter is committed to holding the line on taxes and has signed the Tax Accountability Taxpayer Protection Pledge to support economic freedom by working to decrease the overall tax burden of taxpayers.
In his endorsement of Kyle McCarter, Taxpayers United Founder and President Jim Tobin wrote: “I urge voters to support Kyle’s candidacy and help send a tax fighter to the United States House of Representatives.”
Illinois’ 15th Congressional District is comprised of all or parts of 32 counties: Bond, Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Ford, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jasper, Johnson, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Moultrie, Pope, Richland, Saline, Shelby, Vermillion, Wabash, Washington, Wayne and White.

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