On Election Day, Illinoisans will see a referendum on the ballot that would, if approved by voters, install a state constitutional amendment that would boost the number of legislative votes
needed to pass statewide pension increases for public employees.
If passed, Amendment 49
would require a three-fifths, or super majority, vote of approval by the General
Assembly to make any increases in public employee pensions. As it stands now, only a simple
majority, or one-half of the legislative vote, is needed to increase the pensions of state employees. The amendment would also apply to city and county employees as well as educators, meaning that local governments, school boards and similar legislative bodies would also be beholden to the super majority vote requirement.
The controversial amendment,
sponsored by House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), swept through both the Illinois Senate and House by margins of 51-2 and 113-0, respectively.
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About 10 Lakeview residents trickled in and out of the John Merlo
Branch Library from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. this morning, and a few of them
spoke with Progress Illinois about the 2012 election.
Democratic candidate for the 10th congressional district
Brad Schneider voted with his two sons and his wife at the bustling Red
Oak Elementary School in Highland Park as the sun rose this morning.
The following was written by Anders Lindall, spokesman for AFSCME Council 31, in response to the 
The following op-ed is by Brooke Anderson, Press Secretary to Governor Pat Quinn.
