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2020 Election Results from the IRTPAC
11/4/2020 - Election Results: The IRTPAC has asked all of its local units to share with their members this summary from the results of the 2020 Illinois election. While all eyes seemed to be on the Presidential race Tuesday night, Illinois had many surprises. Generally, Republicans avoided a “Blue Wave” in Illinois as they did in many states. Republicans in the Illinois House of Representatives likely gained two seats while Senate Republicans likely lost 1 seat. The Governor lost his effort to pass a graduated or progressive income tax in Illinois. While Illinois Democrats generally underperformed expectations, the balance of power has not changed. The House Speaker and Senate President still control Democrat super majorities in their chambers and every Statewide officer is still a Democrat. The Illinois Retired Teachers Political Action Committee (IRTPAC) ultimately made the decision to endorse 40 House candidates and 5 Senate candidates for the 2020 Election Cycle. Out of the 40 House candidates we chose to endorse, 11 unfortunately lost their race. The 11 losses include: Tim Ozinga (R-37), Rep. Diane Pappas (D-45), Jennifer Zordani (D-47), Rep. Mary Edly-Allen (D-51), Maggie Trevor (D-54), Brian Sager (D-63), Charlene Eads (D79), Karla Bailey-Smith (D-88), Seth Wiggins (D-90), Rep. Monica Bristow (D-111), Rep. Nathan Reitz (D-116). All 5 of the endorsed Senate candidates won which included: Senator Laura Murphy (D-28), Senator Melinda Bush (D-31), Senator Patrick Joyce (D-40), Meg Loughran Cappel (D-49), and Terri Bryant (R-58). We are very pleased with the outcome of this election and are confident that each legislator we chose to endorse has our members best interest in mind. The IRTPAC strives to support candidates who understand the importance of retired educators’ pension and health insurance benefits, along with many other issues that affect our members. To recap-the following is a complete list of endorsed House candidates: Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-17), Rep. Robyn Gabel (D-18), Rep. Lindsey LaPointe (D-19), Rep. Bradley Stephens (R-20), Rep. Edgar Gonzalez (D-21), Rep. Kam Buckner (D-26), Tim Ozinga (R-37), Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin (D-38), Rep. Diane Pappas (D-45), Jennifer Zordani (D-47), Rep. Terra Costa-Howard (D-48), Rep. Mary Edly-Allen (D-51), Maggie Trevor (D-54), Rep. Jonathan Carroll (D-57), Rep. Daniel Didech (D-59), Rep. Rita Mayfield (D-60), Rep. Sam Yingling (D-62), Brian Sager (D-63), Susanne Ness (D-66), Rep. Maurice West (D-67), Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-70), Rep. Tony McCombie (R-71), Rep. Michael Halpin (D-72), Rep. Daniel Swanson (R-74), Rep. Lance Yednock (D-76), Rep. Camille Lilly (D-78), Charlene Eads (D79), Rep. Barbara Hernandez (D-83), Dagmara Avelar (D-85), Karla Bailey-Smith (D-88), Seth Wiggins (D-90), Mark Luft (R-91), Rep. Norine Hammond (R-93), Rep. Mark Batinick (R-97), Rep. C.D Davidsmeyer (R-100), Rep. Dan Brady (R-105), Rep. Monica Bristow (D-111), Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-113), Rep. Nathan Reitz (D-116), and Rep. Dave Severin (R-117). *********************************************************** If you are curious about what happens at our Board meetings, or you would like to join the Board, feel free to attend one of the Board Meetings. Due to the COVID-19 virus, board meetings have taken place via ZOOM. We welcome new Board Members who will bring fresh ideas to the planning table! Please fill out a contact form if you would like to join the board or attend a ZOOM meeting. You can find the contact form under Unit Info above. ************************************************************ Thank you for your Membership! Not a member? Join Right Now. HI, I’M MIKE SCHMIDT THE IRTA MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIR, AND I’D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT TODAY IS FEBRUARY FIRST AND ALL OF US RETIREES KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. YES, IT’S JUST NINE DAYS TO THE 56th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST BEATLES APPEARANCE ON THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW! OH, NO, NO, NO, I MEAN TODAY IS THE DAY THAT IF WE ARE AT LEAST 62 YEARS OLD, THIS YEAR’S PENSION PAYMENT INCREASES BY A COMPOUNDED 3%. HOPEFULLY YOUR 3% INCREASE WILL MAKE 2020 THAT MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE THAN 2019 WAS. BUT JUST REMEMBER THAT WE WOULDN’T HAVE THAT INCREASE IN OUR BANK ACCOUNTS IF THE IRTA’S INSTITUTED LAWSUIT, HEATON VS. QUINN, HADN’T SUCCEEDED. YOUR MEMBERSHIP IN OUR ASSOCIATION MADE THAT SUCCESS POSSIBLE, SO PLEASE SHARE THE VALUE OF THE IRTA WITH YOUR RETIRED COLLEAGUES WHO AREN’T YET MEMBERS. ASK THEM TO JOIN THE ONLY STATE-WIDE ORGANIZATION THAT IS DEDICATED SOLELY TO PROTECTING THE BENEFITS OF RETIRED EDUCATORS. IT’S EASY TO DO IF YOU JUST DIRECT THEM TO OUR WEBSITE AT IRTAONLINE.ORG. THEY’LL LOVE US - YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. |
Trail Insurance Information:
Please click on TRIP/Trail Information above. *************************************** IRTA October 28, 2020 Yesterday, October 27th, TRS held its first stakeholder meeting in several years. The web meeting had several presentations by the TRS staff and Chairman Devon Bruce opened the meeting. The following is a summary of the staffs’ presentations: • TRS staff shifted to remote work in March. • TRS staff transition back to the office in July. A maximum of 50% of the staff is physically at the office daily. • May 3, 2021, there will be an election for two teacher trustees & one annuitant. • Candidate nominations require 500 valid handwritten or electronic signatures. • Electronic signatures are a new option available due to COVID – 19. • The pandemic magnified already volatile stock markets globally. • TRS took a defensive posture designed to protect assets within difficult market environments. • TRS’s goal is to maximize expected return with a prudent level of risk. • Fiscal Year 2020 membership – 163,115 active members (Tier 1 – 112,004; Tier 2 – 51,111). • There are 125,927 annuitants/beneficiaries. • The oldest retiree is 109 years old. • The oldest active teacher is 81 years old. • The average monthly benefit for recipients is $5,027. • Assets as of June 30, 2020 are $54.9 billion. • Funded ratio 40.5%. The IRTA will be sending a link to our members Monday, November 2nd to sign the IRTA endorsed TRS Annuitant candidate, Larry Pfeiffer’s petition. Stay Safe, Jim Bachman, IRTA Executive Director **************************************** Message from IRTA President John Flaherty Click on Pension/Legislative News Above **************************************** To contact the Winnebago County Retired Teachers Association: Click Contact form under Unit Info above. ***************************************** TRS Position on Pension Funding Click on Pension/Legislative News above **************************************************** We need your help to continue to keep our pensions safe! Illinois Retired Teachers Association Political Action Committee $1/month Enrollment Illinois Retired Teachers Association Political Action Committee is a statewide, nonpartisan Political Action Committee (PAC) organized by members of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association to benefit the entire retired educator community through political contributions to state candidates. To donate using your credit card, go to the LINKS above and click on IRTA. Cursor down to Political Action Committee. On the right, click on the DONATE button. You can donate using your credit card or fill out the $1 per month TRS deduction form. You can also send a check to Illinois Retired Teachers Association PAC, 828 S. Second St., 4th Floor, Springfield, IL 62704. *************************************************** |
