The Capitol Fax Blog » $38K pension windfall after just eight weeks

$38K pension windfall after just eight weeks

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

[Bumped up for higher visibility.]

This is obscene…

Former state Sen. Carol Ronen’s brief gig in Gov. Blagojevich’s office has proven as lucrative as a win in the Illinois Lottery.

Ronen worked just eight weeks for the governor earlier this year, but that job will provide her with a windfall of at least $37,995 every year for the rest of her life.

Ronen’s stint as a Blagojevich senior adviser is enabling the governor’s onetime Senate floor leader to reel in a $102,000-a-year state pension. Ronen, 63, will earn 35 percent more in retirement than she did as a $75,301-a-year legislator representing part of Chicago’s North Side lakefront. […]

“My entire career has been devoted to public service, part of the time in the Legislature and part of the time in the executive branches of state and city governments,” Ronen said. “My pension is based on all those years of service. It’s not a scam.”

Wrong, Carol. A $38K pension bump for eight weeks in the administration is a huge scam.

Anyone elected to the legislature after 1994 can no longer get these pension bumps. But Ronen was first elected in 1992, so she’s eligible.

- posted by Rich Miller

45 Comments

- Dan S, a Voter & Cubs Fan - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 6:44 am:
This is exactly why it is time for a con-con in Illinois. At a time when the pension system is on life support and the undertaker is ready to take the state for burial this is no time for stunts like this.

- Hearing Voices - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 7:36 am:
We had a former senator join us as the head of our agency. Raised his pension from around $50,000 to over $90,000. But, he at least stayed for 5 years.

- South of I-80 - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 7:37 am:
“obscene”………..This is as bad , if not worse than Bobbie Steel’s retirement gift! Just another nail in the public trust coffin!

Is this just a taste of what the rest of the week is going to be like?!?!

- Greg - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 8:22 am:
That is disgraceful. It’s morally fraudulent, and demonstrates why so many private sector Americans (rightfully or not) dislike public employees as a group. Government at its worst.

- fed up - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 8:28 am:
unlike most articles in the press that point out republican wrongdoing I notced this article in the paper didnt have what party this thief was a member of.

- Maggie - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 8:31 am:
The people of Illinois have been desensitized. It is like the violence on cable and video’s. We have been saturated with political corruption. It doesn’t bother us anymore. It’s just part of living in Illinois. In fact if they weren’t corrupt we would be wondering what’s wrong with them. We all know every politician to come out of this state only got there thru corrupt backroom deals.

- He Makes Ryan look like a Saint - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 8:33 am:
What is also obscene is all the sworn ISP officers that do nothing but desk duty and still get the primo retirement as if they are in “dangerous” occupation. I have nothing against the ISP, but those guys should be on the road at least one day per week. Then that would justifiy the 80% of salary after 20 years!

- North of I-80 - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 8:43 am:
Gosh… “MY whole career has been devoted to public service” too. 25 years. When does MY pension get adjusted up?

- washmyhands - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 8:44 am:
Whatever happened with good servants mindful of the appearance of impropriety? Just come right out and say…”the heck with the taxpayer, I’m entitled.” Con-con should get rid of all ELECTED officials pensions.

How about public service…and the honor of serving others…as a just reward?

- State retiree - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 8:58 am:
The windfall for Carol Ronen and others may be legal but what a moral embarrassment. It is amazing to me how politically connected insiders know how to work the system to their financial advantage. It should not be allowed…or tolerated.

- He Makes Ryan look like a Saint - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 9:01 am:
I think all the state pensions should be the same. Regardless of job, and should come out of the same fund. At minimum they should all be funded at the same rate.

- Vote Quimby! - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 9:06 am:
definition of Scam: a confidence game or other fraudulent scheme, esp. for making a quick profit; swindle.
If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck….Ronan would have been more truthful if she said “It’s not illegal.” But it most certainly is a scam. I read where she is ‘volunteering’ for Obama….if I could retire at 63 with $100K I could volunteer too!

- wordslinger - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 9:17 am:
Vulgar. Helps explain why she so forcefully defends the governor on his ethics problems.

It’s like the punch line of the old joke: “I know what kind of person you are, we’re just haggling about price.”

- Leave a light on George - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 9:17 am:
Greg

Don’t bash public employees in general. Former legislators are the only folks who get this kind of sweetned deal. The rest of us have to work a lot of years and make mucho contributions from our paycheck to get the retirement income.

- Ravenswood Right Winger - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 9:34 am:
Hey Rich, any chance you can get her handpicked successor, Heather Steans, to comment on this?

- anon - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 9:36 am:
Volunteer for Obama? The entire United States citizenry will have a taste of Chicago (political culture, that is) come Inauguration Day 2009, a taste that will last longer than Wrigley gum.

However much our “honorable” legislators game the system, many other state employees also can and often do find some sweet state contracts after they “retire.”

- Wondering - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 9:39 am:
Who ELSE currently in the legislature was elected prior to 1994 AND what changed in 1994 to eliminate this ?

- Helm - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 9:40 am:
This is a total disgrace. The shame is that it was dumped in the mainstream media over a holiday weekend hence not as many people saw it. If I recall correctly, Carol’s predecessor, Sen. Art Berman, also had some sweet pension deal but I think he served longer. I am almost choking on the irony that these so called, good-government, progressive, holier-than-thou lake-front liberals suddenly get “religion” when it comes to lining their own pockets.

- Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 9:41 am:
===Who ELSE currently in the legislature was elected prior to 1994 AND what changed in 1994 to eliminate this ?===

1) Look it up yourself.

2) They passed a law.

- Mike - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 9:45 am:
Didn’t Ronen work for the City for several years? Does she get a pension from her years of “service” for the City along with a state pension?

- Team Sleep - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 9:50 am:
The pension system will break this state. Not maybe - it will. Shenanigans like this have lead to a pension obligation the state will never fully meet, and regular state employees will certainly see cuts in their monthly benefits while people like Senator Ronen will always have their full benefits intact.

These types of moves are done at the federal level as well, and many companies have long put up with the “monthly and weekly transfers” designed to help out top personnel.

I think state retirees need to start paying more into their monthly health benefit package. It’s only fair. Retirees from private businesses often see their health benefit premiums skyrocket - or get dropped. This has to be costing the state a fortune.

- VanillaMan - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 10:10 am:
“It’s not a scam.” - Former Sen. Carol Ronen, May 2008

“It’s not technically a scam. That’s why we must make this kind of disgusting unethical charade a crime by voting for a Con-Con in 2008 and ending this kind of legalized robbery.” - VanillaMan, May 2008.

- Angry Chicagoan - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 10:25 am:
No wonder Ronen likes Blago so much. This needs to be in the news, on talk radio 24/7 for the next few days, and it should be a nice kick-off for a con-con campaign. She should hang her head in shame.

- Greg - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 10:32 am:
Leave a light on,

I only said that this kind of story explains why so many Americans dislike them. Didn’t bash.

- Thomas A Moan - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 11:06 am:
What crap!!! I have been in and out of Springfield for the past 48 years, meaning, transferer on the job, the last 11 years of my working career, which ended in 1993, when I had to retire due to disability, and I couldn’t get out of that crooked political State, so I moved, permantly. It is probably known thruout the United States, as the most corrupted government, just an example, being, 38k et al. The BS she related about spending so much time working for the State, and deserves it, is so stupid, for the people of Illinois to accept, that it shows her mentality after being with the employment, so long she just expects it. I would doubt that she even spent 24 hours, in manual labor, in her entire time “work” for the civil government. Things like this, along with the crooked antics alledged by the present gov.Yet, I read that the mowing of Camp Butler was dropped off the list of Illinois powers to be, and at all times, on Memorial Day. I could write for days about the corruption in Illinois, but I will stop here. Lastly, don’t cry and say “Glad you’re gone”, because that old addage will not work. I have 2 daughters living in Springfield, Il, and the actions of such corruption hits close to home, for me too.
Sincerely
Thomas A Moan
Garden City Beach, SC

- Kevin Fanning - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 11:13 am:
===I couldn’t get out of that crooked political State, so I moved, permantly. ===

Wasn’t the S.C. State Treasurer arrested for dealing cocaine out of his office? Sounds pretty corrupt to me…

- Little Egypt - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 11:17 am:
How about if Caron Ronen brings her lawn tractor to Springfield and mows outside Camp Butler for the 4th of July, at her own expense and by herself, since she’s getting a pretty good ride for the rest of her life courtesy of the Illinois taxpayers. Hey Carol, come back for Labor Day and Veteran’s Day as well - every year for the rest of your life. That’s the least you owe us for your additional 8 weeks of hard labor working for Blago to obscenely sweeten your pension benefits.

- Disgusted - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 11:59 am:
Hey, Carol: I double-dog dare you to walk in this year’s State Fair parade!!!!!!

- Kevin Fanning - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 12:05 pm:
lol

- Suzanne - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 12:13 pm:
THE LAW

(40 ILCS 5/2-108.1)
Sec. 2-108.1 Highest Salary for Annuity Purposes
(b) The earnings limitations of subsection (a) apply to earnings under any other participating system under the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act that are considered in calculating a proportional annuity under this Article, except in the case of a person who first became a member of this System before August 22, 1994.

ELIGIBLE SENATE MEMBERS (elected before 8/22/94)

Sen. Emil Jones, Jr.
Sen. John J. Cullerton
Sen. Frank C. Watson
Sen. William E. Peterson
Sen. James A. DeLeo
Sen. Todd Sieben
Sen. Donne E. Trotter
Sen. Jeffrey M. Schoenberg
Sen. J. Bradley Burzynski
Sen. Dan Cronin
Sen. Edward D. Maloney
Sen. Rickey R. Hendon
Sen. Bill Brady
Sen. Kirk Dillard
Sen. Chris Lauzen
Sen. Carole Pankau
Sen. Dan Rutherford
Sen. Dave Syverson

ELIGIBLE HOUSE MEMBERS (elected before 8/22/94)

Rep. Angelo Saviano
Rep. Arthur L. Turner
Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie
Rep. Bob Biggins
Rep. Brent Hassert
Rep. Carolyn Krause
Rep. Daniel J. Burke
Rep. David R. Leitch
Rep. Donald L. Moffitt
Rep. Frank J. Mautino
Rep. Gary Hannig
Rep. Jack McGuire
Rep. James H. Meyer
Rep. Jay C. Hoffman
Rep. Kurt M. Grandberg
Rep. Lou Lang
Rep. Mary E. Flowers
Rep. Michael J. Madigan
Rep. Monique D. Davis
Rep. Patricia Reid Lindner
Rep. Ron Stephens
Rep. Ronald A. Wait
Rep. Rosemary Mulligan
Rep. Tom Cross
Rep. William B. Black
Rep. Wyvetter Younge

Note: Although these members are eligible to amplify their pensions the way Senator Ronen did, eligibility alone does not mean they will. Nothing prevents a member from adopting post-reform rules as a personal statement of service and ethics.

- Dennis T - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 1:44 pm:
Term limits is key - 12 years max for any office - get rid of all defined benefit plans for all new hires - raise salaries for elected officials - but no other jobs held - set up 401(k) type plans - let them define their own pension

We must act soon or be like Vallejo, CA - a city that just declared bankruptcy due to pension costs.

- David - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 1:46 pm:
===Wasn’t the S.C. State Treasurer arrested for dealing cocaine out of his office? Sounds pretty corrupt to me…===

Kevin, Is being arrested the same as being convicted?

- Little Egypt - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 2:31 pm:
David, I’m not an attorney but I’ll take a stab at answering your question. In a court of justice, being arrested is NOT the same as being convicted? However, with political corruption so rampant in Illinois, being arrested IS the same thing as being convicted in what is commonly called “The Court of Public Opinion.” But you knew that, didn’t you.

- Kevin Fanning - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 2:35 pm:
nicely said Little Egypt. Here is a news story on that State Treasurer as well. Sounds like he’s going to prison.

- Little Egypt - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 2:41 pm:
Thanks Kevin.

- A Citizen - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 3:16 pm:
Roger, The Hog, Stanley pulled the same pension enrichment thing by working a couple of months at the Sec. of State under G. Ryan. But I don’t think he reaped a $38,000 per year bump. Darn nice (if obscene) work if you can get it.

- nino - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 4:23 pm:
business as usual.

- Truthful James - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 5:15 pm:
Kevin –

Sorry, but your attempt at humor did not reach the Rich grade.

First the S.C. gent was not convicted for dealing, read your source.

“…conspiring to purchase and distribute less than 100 grams of cocaine” a maximum of 3.5 ounces if the offense were 100 grams, Normally a dealer sells the stuff.,

Not a good thing, but let is be accurate.

Are you equating the acions of a single man, who was discovered after he left officewith that of the whole swamp and sump in Springfield?

Or perhaps that Senator Ronen’s flash pension was the moral equivalent of Mr. Ravenal’s offsnse even though her ‘profit’ was much greater.

One might indeed allege that Sen. Ronen had a life long addiction to a government salary and pension, moving for the largest hit at the end — a lifetime high. After all, both are users.

But sadly, the analogy does not fit.

- Kevin Fanning - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 5:25 pm:
Truthful James-

First, lets get the facts right. As stated in the story:

“Before the summer was over, he was indicted, resigned his newly won state office and pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute.”

The man was in office.

Second, I’m not defending Carol Ronen’s pension one bit. It’s disgusting, and corrupt. That was never the argument. My point was simply that those in glass houses should not cast stones. When someone goes on about their state government’s pristine, squeaky clean image it is only fair to point out that their will always be bad people in government. I thought it was pretty funny. Kind of ironic too.

- Little Egypt - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 6:14 pm:
The story from ABC7chicago.com is a real line of BS from Blago. He claims he didn’t know Ronen would get that kind of bump in her retirement salary and he states that the pension system needs reform. Am I the only one who is tired of Blago peeing down my back and trying to convince me it’s raining?

- ChampaignDweller - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 6:40 pm:
As ignorant as the governor is on some things, perhaps Ronen scammed him as well as the rest of the public.

- Diogenes - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 7:22 pm:
It seems only right that Sen. Obama should sever all ties with this tainted, Old Chicago, political hack.

In that same vein, Sprigfield’s own Little Lord Fauntleroy, Sen. Jeffy Schoenberg (D-Whining) should declare his intent to not attempt to spike his pension in any fashion should he ever leave the General Assembly and take another State job (cause he sure as heck ain’t going to Washington, D.C. except as a tourist.)

- Roy Slade - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 10:54 pm:
First, it was the esteemed Senator from Southern Illinois- who left his $64,000 job for DCCA- and a new $100,000 per year job. Then, along came Sen Ronen…is Rep Kurt Granberg next in line for the gravy train at OUR expense? If the Governor really feels he has to reward his friends- maybe he could put them at Tamms, and let them actually EARN their money!

- Anonymous - Wednesday, May 28, 08 @ 12:42 am:
GREG - Tuesday, May 27, 08 @ 8:22 am,
Your comment may reflect a general consensus but do you think there are no public employees who regard what is shoved in their faces as disgraceful and morally fraudulent? Do you think they are not aware of the contempt so many private sector Americans have for them as a group? Know this; in the rare instance when a public employee comes forward to expose something, that individual is systematically destroyed. This usually happens before you ever get the chance to hear about it. What Citizen will step up even though you and yours are placed in harms way?

- Hey Rich - Wednesday, May 28, 08 @ 11:23 pm:
put this fron and center, I’m sure everyone will get a big laugh! Did the spin sisters put (or should I say sister NOW that Rebecca is gone) the Gov up to this: http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/pension.padding.ronen.2.735134.html

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