Political commentary, opinion & insight into the state of the United States of America.

Let me introduce you to the two gentlemen who have forced the great state of Illinois into bankruptcy. No it’s not official yet, but its true. There is no out for Illinois. The gun has been fired and the bullet in on its way and there is no dodging what’s coming. The pension obligations for public employees is far greater than the possible revenue stream. Simple as that.

These two gentlemen sharing a private joke are to blame. Mr. Michael Madigan on the left and Mr. John Cullerton on the right. Madigan is Speaker of the House and Cullerton is President of the senate. Between them they’ve run the state for forty years. Run it right into the ground.

I’m not going to give you  all the numbers, just the scenario.  Let’s start with governmental units. Illinois has the most in the union by far. School districts, townships and local governments. More units means more government employees. More government employees over a long period of time. Drawing generous pensions and moving to Florida and taking their pensions with them. At every level of government they play the game. Since pensions are based on last salaries, they inflate them to maximize the pension. Cadillac health care plans. Of course. Contribute to either pensions or health care, of course not. Automatic cost of living increases on pensions. Of course. High wages ? Some of the highest in the land.

Can Illinois tax its way out of this? No. The state has the highest property tax in the US. The state has the highest collective tax in the US. The state led the nation in the most residents and businesses departing the state.

See the pubic unions keep Madigan and Cullerton and their hand-picked Democratic friends in office. In return, they reward the public unions with the best pay, best retirement, and best benefits in the country.

Term limits. No, their judge says no to that. It was tried. Pension adjustment. No, their judge says no to that.

Chicago, which is dragging the state down in a race to see who drowns first, will not open the schools this fall unless the rest of the state bails them out. The Republican governor, Bruce Rauner, is insisting on reform in the Chicago school system. Teachers threaten to strike for more money. That’s their version of reform.

Take a look at Chicago, Illinois and Puerto Rico, they all have a lot in common. Politicians have made promises they can’t afford. Over a long period of time. Bills are coming due and there’s no money to pay the bills. The more the politicians try to raise taxes to pay the bills, the more the people and businesses move. After all, the climate does’t keep anyone here. Nor the infrastructure as it goes to pot. Or, the crime as it worsens.

So, if two men can destroy a state, could one woman destroy a country? Forty million Americans have student loans. Hillary is making noise about forgiveness to get elected. Here’s the student loan debt clock.

http://collegedebt.com/

What’s another trillion on the soon-to-be $20 trillion Obama is leaving?

Here’s what it is. If you give one hoot about anyone in your family who might live another 20 years, here’s looking at you Illinois.

Here’s an example:

Illinois has 6,994 local governments in 102 counties. There are 1,432 townships, the only state with townships.

List of school districts in Illinois. The following is a list of school districts in Illinois. In 2014, there were 863 regular public districts: 375 elementary school districts, 100 high school districts, and 388 unit school districts

Please keep in mind, Illinois does not do well in test scores ranking 28th in the last survey.

Top 50 biggest Illinois pension payouts in TRS

1. Lawrence Wyllie

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Lincoln-Way CHSD 210
• Annual Pension: $302,991
• Employee Contributions: $398,488
• Age at Retirement: 75 (Retired June 2013)
• Pension Paid to Date: $461,651
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $3.16 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 12.6%

2. Henry Bangser

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: New Trier Township HSD 203
• Annual Pension: $294,524
• Employee Contributions: $275,366
• Age at Retirement: 57 (Retired July 2006)
• Pension Paid to Date: $2.16 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $9.55 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 2.9%

3. Gary Catalani

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: CUSD 200
• Annual Pension: $293,214
• Employee Contributions: $289,151
• Age at Retirement: 56 (Retired June 2011)
• Pension Paid to Date: $1.89 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $10.23 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 2.8%

4. Laura Murray

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Homewood-Flossmoor CHSD 233
• Annual Pension: $288,472
• Employee Contributions: $298,591
• Age at Retirement: 57 (Retired July 2008)
• Pension Paid to Date: $1.68 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $9.95 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 3.0%

5. Mary Curley

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Hinsdale CCSD 181
• Annual Pension: $280,172
• Employee Contributions: $248,708
• Age at Retirement: 55 (Retired June 2007)
• Pension Paid to Date: $1.81 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $10.36 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 2.4%

6. Henry Gmitro

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: CCSD 93
• Annual Pension: $273,573
• Employee Contributions: $282,750
• Age at Retirement: 56 (Retired July 2009)
• Pension Paid to Date: $1.31 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $10.19 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 2.8%

7. Reginald Weaver

• Title: President
• Employer: Illinois chapter of the National Education Association (IEA)
• Annual Pension: $273,113
• Employee Contributions: $264,894
• Age at Retirement: 69
• Pension Paid to Date: $1.58 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $4.35 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 6.1%

8. Maureen Hager

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: North Shore SD 112
• Annual Pension: $271,653
• Employee Contributions: $277,774
• Age at Retirement: 58 (Retired June 2009)
• Pension Paid to Date: $1.35 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $9.14 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 3.0%

9. James Hintz

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Adlai E. Stevenson HSD 125
• Annual Pension: $264,280
• Employee Contributions: $235,017
• Age at Retirement: 55 (Retired June 2005)
• Pension Paid to Date: $2.12 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $9.22 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 2.5%

10. Jonathan Lamberson

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Riverside SD 96
• Annual Pension: $262,516
• Employee Contributions: $370,166
• Age at Retirement: 58 (Retired June 2013)
• Pension Paid to Date: $437,527
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $10.01 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 3.7%

11. Mohsin Dada

• Title: Assistant District Superintendent & Treasurer
  • Currently the Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer at North Shore SD 112
• Employer: Schaumburg CCSD 54
• Annual Pension: $262,341
• Employee Contributions: $299,494
• Age at Retirement: 59
• Pension Paid to Date: $868,662
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $8.88 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 3.4%

12. John Conyers

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Palatine CCSD 15
• Annual Pension: $259,685
• Employee Contributions: $217,805
• Age at Retirement: 57 (Retired June 2003)
• Pension Paid to Date: $2.47 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $7.71 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 2.8%

13. Larry Fleming

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Lincolnshire-Prairieview SD 103
• Annual Pension: $258,163
• Employee Contributions: $326,507
• Age at Retirement: 55 (Retired June 2012)
• Pension Paid to Date: $667,637
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $11.18 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 2.9%

14. Kevin Burns

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: CHSD 218
• Annual Pension: $254,208
• Employee Contributions: $223,197
• Age at Retirement: 55 (Retired June 2007)
• Pension Paid to Date: $1.61 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $9.37 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 2.4%

15. Dennis Kelly

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Lyons Twp HSD 204
• Annual Pension: $251,365
• Employee Contributions: $289,587
• Age at Retirement: 62 (Retired July 2009)
• Pension Paid to Date: $806,838
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $6.28 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 4.6%

16. Harry Griffith

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Lake Forest SD 67
• Annual Pension: $248,804
• Employee Contributions: $337,364
• Age at Retirement: 61 (Retired June 2012)
• Pension Paid to Date: $590,130
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $7.72 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 4.4%

17. Howard Bultinck

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Sunset Ridge SD 29
• Annual Pension: $247,225
• Employee Contributions: $257,014
• Age at Retirement: 57 (Retired June 2007)
• Pension Paid to Date: $1.62 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $8.26 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 3.1%

18. Norman Wetzel

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: CUSD 300
• Annual Pension: $246,521
• Employee Contributions: $179,203
• Age at Retirement: 55 (Retired June 2002)
• Pension Paid to Date: $2.50 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $7.87 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 2.3%

19. Lawrence Baskin

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: CCSD 89
• Annual Pension: $244,622
• Employee Contributions: $216,134
• Age at Retirement: 58 (Retired June 2005)
• Pension Paid to Date: $1.99 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $7.32 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 3.0%

20. Frances McTague

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Skokie SD 68
• Annual Pension: $243,160
• Employee Contributions: $315,881
• Age at Retirement: 59 (Retired June 2014)
• Pension Paid to Date: $143,869
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $9.01 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 3.5%

21. John Harper

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Plainfield SD 202
• Annual Pension: $239,019
• Employee Contributions: $329,796
• Age at Retirement: 54 (Retired July 2014)
• Pension Paid to Date: $141,574
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $11.51 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 2.9%

22. Ronald Patton

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Bloom Twp HSD 206
• Annual Pension: $238,964
• Employee Contributions: $203,340
• Age at Retirement: 58 (Retired July 2004)
• Pension Paid to Date: $2.12 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $6.94 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 2.9%

23. Marvin Edwards

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: SD U-46
• Annual Pension: $238,185
• Employee Contributions: $0
• Age at Retirement: 58 (Retired July 2004)
• Pension Paid to Date: $2.46 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $6.53 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 0.0%

24. Timothy Kanold

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Adlai E. Stevenson HSD 125
• Annual Pension: $236,942
• Employee Contributions: $213,978
• Age at Retirement: 56 (Retired June 2007)
• Pension Paid to Date: $1.53 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $8.32 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 2.6%

25. Gerald Chapman

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Township HSD 211
• Annual Pension: $234,745
• Employee Contributions: $196,925
• Age at Retirement: 57 (Retired June 2007)
• Pension Paid to Date: $2.58 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $6.59 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 3.0%

26. Dennis Conti

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Woodland CCSD 50
• Annual Pension: $232,177
• Employee Contributions: $220,399
• Age at Retirement: 57 (Retired June 2005)
• Pension Paid to Date: $1.89 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $7.33 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 3.0%

27. Michael Johnson 

• Title: Executive Director
• Employer: Illinois Association of School Boards
• Annual Pension: $231,942
• Employee Contributions: $229,060
• Age at Retirement: 55 (Retired May 2007)
• Pension Paid to Date: $1.47 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $8.99 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 2.5%

28. James Gallagher

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Evergreen Park CHSD 231
• Annual Pension: $231,228
• Employee Contributions: $249,906
• Age at Retirement: 60 (Retired July 2008)
• Pension Paid to Date: $1.36 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $6.78 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 3.7%

29. Jack Barshinger

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Batavia USD 101
• Annual Pension: $229,963
• Employee Contributions: $307,184
• Age at Retirement: 59 (Retired June 2013)
• Pension Paid to Date: $350,381
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $8.27 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 3.7%

30. Glenn McGee

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Wilmette SD 39
• Annual Pension: $228,395
• Employee Contributions: $260,525
• Age at Retirement: 56 (Retired June 2007)
• Pension Paid to Date: $1.49 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $8.03 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 3.2%

31. Donald Weber

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Naperville CUSD 203
• Annual Pension: $228,108
• Employee Contributions: $213,568
• Age at Retirement: 61 (Retired July 2003)
• Pension Paid to Date: $2.21 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $5.45 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 3.9%

32. Susan Bridge

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Oak Park-River Forest SD 200
• Annual Pension: $227,458
• Employee Contributions: $238,380
• Age at Retirement: 60 (Retired June 2007)
• Pension Paid to Date: $1.53 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $6.47 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 3.7%

33. Linda Hanson

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Township HSD 113
• Annual Pension: $226,856
• Employee Contributions: $183,720
• Age at Retirement: 56 (Retired July 2003)
• Pension Paid to Date: $2.16 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $7.10 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 2.6%

34. John Rodgers 

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Crete Monee CUSD 201U
• Annual Pension: $225,979
• Employee Contributions: $275,268
• Age at Retirement: 55 (Retired June 2014)
• Pension Paid to Date: $131,821
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $10.35 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 2.7%

35. Christopher Ward

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Lockport Twp HSD 205
• Annual Pension: $224,318
• Employee Contributions: $199,728
• Age at Retirement: 60 (Retired July 2004)
• Pension Paid to Date: $2.01 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $5.84 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 3.4%

36. Steve Humphrey

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: DuPage HSD 88
• Annual Pension: $224,289
• Employee Contributions: $346,253
• Age at Retirement: 64 (Retired June 2012)
• Pension Paid to Date: $549,531
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $5.80 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 6.0%

37. James White

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Queen Bee SD 16
• Annual Pension: $223,595
• Employee Contributions: $270,104
• Age at Retirement: 62 (Retired June 2012)
• Pension Paid to Date: $1.32 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $5.83 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 4.6%

38. Jean McGrew

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Northfield Twp HSD 225
• Annual Pension: $223,493
• Employee Contributions: $204,323
• Age at Retirement: 64 (Retired July 1998)
• Pension Paid to Date: $2.86 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $3.79 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 5.4%

39. Bruce Lane

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Mannheim SD 83
• Annual Pension: $222,678
• Employee Contributions: $285,661
• Age at Retirement: 60 (Retired July 2011)
• Pension Paid to Date: $745,895
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $7.13 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 4.0%

40. Joseph Palermo

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Berkeley SD 87
• Annual Pension: $222,646
• Employee Contributions: $260,911
• Age at Retirement: 59 (Retired July 2009)
• Pension Paid to Date: $1.13 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $7.11 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 3.7%

41. Edward Rafferty

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Schaumburg CCSD 54
• Annual Pension: $221,083
• Employee Contributions: $331,473
• Age at Retirement: 58 (Retired June 2013)
• Pension Paid to Date: $351,277
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $8.41 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 3.9%

42. Robert Howard

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Community Consolidated School District 59
• Annual Pension: $220,041
• Employee Contributions: $168,445
• Age at Retirement: 59 (Retired July 2004)
• Pension Paid to Date: $1.97 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $6.07 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 2.8%

43. Jack Schoenholtz

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Leyden CHSD 212
• Annual Pension: $219,592
• Employee Contributions: $176,716
• Age at Retirement: 61 (Retired July 1999)
• Pension Paid to Date: $2.73 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $4.68 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 3.8%

44. Mark Van Clay

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: La Grange SD 102
• Annual Pension: $219,374
• Employee Contributions: $262,100
• Age at Retirement: 61 (Retired July 2009)
• Pension Paid to Date: $1.11 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $6.25 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 4.2%

45. Richard Dufour

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Adlai Stevenson High School District 125
• Annual Pension: $219,121
• Employee Contributions: $190,390
• Age at Retirement: 54 (Retired June 2002)
• Pension Paid to Date: $2.20 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $7.33 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 2.6%

46. Roger Miller

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Hinsdale Twp HSD 86
• Annual Pension: $218,230
• Employee Contributions: $228,301
• Age at Retirement: 60 (Retired July 2005)
• Pension Paid to Date: $1.80 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $5.86 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 3.9%

47. Kathryn Robbins

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Leyden CHSD 212
• Annual Pension: $217,958
• Employee Contributions: $315,660
• Age at Retirement: 58 (Retired June 2013)
• Pension Paid to Date: $346,311
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $8.29 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 3.8%

48. Paul Swanstrom

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Joliet Twp HSD 204
• Annual Pension: $217,735
• Employee Contributions: $273,560
• Age at Retirement: 58 (Retired July 2011)
• Pension Paid to Date: $721,096
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $7.79 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 3.5%

49. Michael Smoot

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Wood Dale SD 7
• Annual Pension: $216,873
• Employee Contributions: $215,265
• Age at Retirement: 61 (Retired July 2004)
• Pension Paid to Date: $1.95 million
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $5.33 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 4.0%

50. Donna Joy

• Title: District Superintendent
• Employer: Flossmoor SD 161
• Annual Pension: $216,135
• Employee Contributions: $274,489
• Age at Retirement: 64 (Retired July 2011)
• Pension Paid to Date: $723,977
• *Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $5.43 million
• Percentage of Lifetime Estimate Paid by Employee: 5.1%

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