When I read the editorial headed ”Remedial math on teacher pensions,” I couldn`t believe my eyes. It called the Public Teachers` Pension Fund ”overly endowed”!
I am a retired teacher with 27 years of service. I have often asked why the teachers` fund (unlike state legislators` fund) has always been underfunded. The reply has been, ”Don`t worry about it. The state legislators will always protect you!” The editorial also called it a ”constructive act” to give ”the Chicago school system permission to transfer money from the overly endowed pension fund to the teacher payroll.” Involuntary cannibalism! WBEZ radio broadcast a few of Gov. Thompson`s remarks regarding his consideration of a line-item veto. The governor stated that the money transfer would only decrease the funding of an already underfunded pension fund. I don`t know if the editorial board is teacherphobic, but taking teachers`
salaries from a teachers` pension fund certainly has a sadistic twist!
