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* Tribune…
Disgraced former Chicago Ald. Daniel Solis collects a nearly $95,000 annual city taxpayer-funded pension, despite his role as a central figure in an ongoing public corruption scandal at City Hall, records show. […]
Retired city workers can lose their pensions if they’re convicted of a felony crime connected to their municipal service. Solis’ retirement took effect on May 21, the day after he left office, records show.
Barring a criminal conviction, the former alderman could keep his taxpayer-funded pension for life. […]
The idea of Solis keeping his pension is “a painful pill for taxpayers to swallow,” said Alisa Kaplan, policy director of the Reform for Illinois watchdog group.
He hasn’t yet been charged with anything, let alone convicted, and he has been actively working with federal investigators. So, how, exactly, is the General Assembly supposed to write a viable bill that stops someone like Solis from receiving his constitutionally protected pension benefits? “No pensions for federal stool pigeons,” perhaps? Come to think of it, that might actually pass, so let’s not give them any ideas.
…Adding… Related…
* Political operative accused of plying Solis with Viagra, arranging massage parlor trips is slapped with $25K fine for unregistered lobbying
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 16, 19 @ 10:02 am
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Previous Post: State’s red flag law is a “public health tool”
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word “on the street” in Chicago is that Solis will NEVER be charged, that is part of the deal since he wired up Burke for them.. The law should say “no pension for stop pigeons who bought Viagra with bribe money”..that should narrow the intent
Comment by NotRich Monday, Sep 16, 19 @ 10:05 am
Why create a disincentive for cooperating with the Feds? lol
Comment by NIU Grad Monday, Sep 16, 19 @ 10:10 am
== Barring a criminal conviction … ==
That is the crux right there. The law as currently written allows / requires due process before the pension is forfeited. We probably don’t want to change that.
Don’t want a (alleged) co-conspiritor to receive a government pension, then make forfeiture of the pension part of the deal to avoid criminal charges.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Sep 16, 19 @ 10:13 am
The feds can always make voluntary forfeiture of pension benefits a condition to a deal with them. Danny Boy and others would almost always still take the deal — lost pension better than a stay in the federal lockup (no matter how cushy you want to believe it to be). And if the prospective unindicted coconspirator won’t take the deal, leave it to the feds to decide how important he is and whether to go forward allowing the pig to keep his pension.
Comment by DougChicago Monday, Sep 16, 19 @ 10:18 am
Not sure if the pension is the sole income here (SSI?) but the idea that the “public” can revoke a person’s retirement income is mob mentality stuff. Imagine confiscating someone’s SSI, 401k and IRA s, leaving them with no income. Draconian tactics and people depending on those income streams would be outraged. Yet public pension? Totally fair.
Felon? Yeah. Not yet there yet for this guy. On the other hand for someone totally dependent on a public pension the public will pay their livelihood should they meet low income requirements anyway. Pay one way or another
Comment by Ano Monday, Sep 16, 19 @ 10:18 am
Taking away a pension is a big deal. The constitution forbids excessive fines for a reason.
Comment by Chicagonk Monday, Sep 16, 19 @ 10:19 am
This comment is quite ridiculous, not to mention totally devoid of understanding the law. Reform Illinois is the legacy group of ICPR, the group founded by the late Senator Paul Simon. They used to do really great work and focus on making lasting change. Now they’re all about press pops and disseminating information that often lacks in fact.
Comment by correction Monday, Sep 16, 19 @ 10:24 am
Draft a law that provides for a stand up guy who keeps his mouth shut and takes whatever comes, that guy’s family gets his pension. If the guy rats on others and walks, then no pension for anyone. Call it the Pentangeli-Hill Act.
Comment by Henry Francis Monday, Sep 16, 19 @ 10:31 am
Isn’t this one of your long time complaints about the so called reform worse than the problem?
Comment by Not a Billionaire Monday, Sep 16, 19 @ 10:32 am
Do Something, Now.
Typical knee-jerk from a society spoiled from instant gratification.
Don’t have to think things through, that way.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s time for my pudding and nap.
Comment by efudd Monday, Sep 16, 19 @ 10:35 am
== Taking away a pension is a big deal. The constitution forbids excessive fines for a reason. ==
State law is not completely clear about losing a pension due to official misconduct.
As to whether or not it is excessive, the George Ryan case is s good example of how the legal / judicial system looks at the issue. Even though the misconduct was primarily associated with his time at SOS, the court decided all of his State pension was forfeited. He was given a refund of all his contributions into the various systems.
This was not necessarily in line with previous decisions that had allowed some convicted State employees to retain a part of their pension. Interestingly, in the 6-1 decision against Ryan, the only Justice to vote against stripping Ryan of his complete pension was Ann Burke, who cited the previous treatment of other convicted employees.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Sep 16, 19 @ 10:47 am
Here is what I think is fascinating: Legislators LOVE to file bills and get press pops all the time. Every week we see all sorts of bills that will never become law. Yet, when it comes to City Council corruption these same legislators are unusually quiet and they simply say nothing can be done.
Comment by Just Me 2 Monday, Sep 16, 19 @ 10:55 am
Clearly, the state needs a Grace Commission of upstanding citizens, empowered to determine with legally binding finality who among us has been disgraced. /s
Comment by DIstant watcher Monday, Sep 16, 19 @ 10:56 am
Letting Solis and those like him keep their pension is a small price to pay for the corruption they bring to light. At least at present the FBI has a good track record in not wasting expensive pensions on trivial info.
Comment by lake county democrat Monday, Sep 16, 19 @ 11:00 am
Wonder if Ms Kaplan supports applying the same remedy in the private sector? Like GovJunk’s fund owning the poison plant or the slimeballs at his GA bank? Many think biz honchos establish a public obligation for honest services and should be included in all these round ups. As for Solis lets remember how long this has all take to dribble out and how unspectacular the published work product appears.
Comment by Annonin' Monday, Sep 16, 19 @ 11:01 am
Sad part is if he lives say 20 years once he moves to Naples, he would have collected over $2,000,000 with colas added, maybe closer to 3,000,000…maybe start thinking twice about who you keep re-electing and look at his or her recird/ performances….and not just party affiliation
Comment by Arron shocked Monday, Sep 16, 19 @ 11:02 am
Amend the constitution:
Pensions are a contract that shall not be diminished unless the enrolled cooperates in a federal investigation.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Sep 16, 19 @ 11:03 am
The General Assembly hereby passes the Taxpayer Protection Pension whereby all pension benefits are denied to those nobody sent.
Comment by Al Monday, Sep 16, 19 @ 11:06 am
Snitches get… their pensions reduced commensurate with the badness the stuff they did for which they’re getting immunity by virtue of the snitching.
Rolls right off the tongue.
Comment by lakeside Monday, Sep 16, 19 @ 11:08 am
…I wonder if life-time Viagra pills and no-pension forfeiture was part of Randy Danny’s cooperating deal. Wonder where he’s living these days.
Comment by Wonder Girl Monday, Sep 16, 19 @ 11:13 am
What is it with Daniel Biss and pensions?
Comment by Thomas Paine Monday, Sep 16, 19 @ 11:31 am
@ Thomas Paine, does Biss get one? Pension envy?
Do people in prison get Social Security taken away from them? because a pension for most in government is like social security. that is missing in the minds of many. He cooperated. We may actually throw him a parade.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Sep 16, 19 @ 11:44 am
Civil forfeiture - gains that might have been associated with a crime and no need for a conviction.
Comment by NoGifts Monday, Sep 16, 19 @ 12:15 pm
Lake County Democrat at 11:00 nailed it–it’s a small price for the public to pay to expose and prosecute corruption. You can’t always get something for nothing.
You want to live in your house with your family and enjoy a comfortable pension? Just wear this wire and do as we tell you. Or, we’ll find you a new home where you won’t need that pension.
Comment by James Monday, Sep 16, 19 @ 2:14 pm
How about a board that decided if you seem ‘hinky’ or not? No issues there.
Comment by OneMan Monday, Sep 16, 19 @ 3:07 pm