Health & Fitness
Kotowski won't accept per diem or mileage reimbursement for upcoming Special Session on pension reform
Senator Kotowski announced today he will not accept taxpayer money for per diem and mileage reimbursement for the upcoming Special Session.
PARK RIDGE, IL – Illinois Senator Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge) announced today that he will not accept taxpayer money for pier diem and mileage reimbursement if the governor follows through with his plan to call the General Assembly back to Springfield on August 17 for a costly Special Session.
“It’s time we solve the pension funding problem. But we don’t need to run up taxpayer expenses to do it,” Kotowski said. “I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to follow suit and refuse their per diems and reimbursements as well.”
If all 177 legislators report to Springfield, the cost of a special session can be upwards of $40,000 a day.
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Kotowski renewed his call for the Illinois House to convene and approve pension reform legislation that cleared the Illinois Senate back in May.
House Bill 1447 reforms the General Assembly Retirement System and the State Employees’ Retirement System. The savings could cover nearly 40 percent of the state’s unfunded liability and open the door for reforms to the remaining public pension systems.
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"I voted with a bipartisan coalition of legislators to pass pension reform in the Senate for legislators and state employees, saving taxpayers an estimated Illinois $31 billion. With the House scheduled to be back on Aug. 17, I encourage state representatives to use the opportunity to pass this bill, save taxpayers billions and provide a framework for future, more comprehensive pension reform," Kotowski added.
