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Below are the latest stories on the pension issue in Illinois.

State Week: Minimum Wage Going Up, Pension Payments Going Down

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Brian Mackey
/
NPR Illinois

Democrats in the Illinois House approved an increase in the state minimum wage. Assuming Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs the legislation — he's said he will — the rate will gradually climb to $15 perhour in the year 2025;

Meanwhile, top Pritzker budget aid Dan Hynes floated the idea of reducing the upcoming payments into the pension fund. It would provide budget relief in the short run, but could eventually leave Illinois' already-underfunded pension systems in even worse shape.

Sean Crawford hosts with regular panelists Charlie Wheeler, Brian Mackey and Daisy Contreras, and guest Greg Hinz of Crain’s Chicago Business.

Brian Mackey formerly reported on state government and politics for NPR Illinois and a dozen other public radio stations across the state. Before that, he was A&E editor at The State Journal-Register and Statehouse bureau chief for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.
The former director of the Public Affairs Reporting (PAR) graduate program is Professor Charles N. Wheeler III, a veteran newsman who came to the University of Illinois at Springfield following a 24-year career at the Chicago Sun-Times.
Daisy reported on statehouse issues for our Illinois Issues project. She's a Public Affairs Reporting program graduate from the University of Illinois Springfield. She also graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology, and has an associates degrees from Truman College. Daisy is from Chicago where she attended Lane Tech High School.
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