Navigating Pension Reform in Illinois: What Lies Ahead?

The Civic Federation is pleased to partner with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to co-host "Navigating Pension Reform: What Lies Ahead?" on Tuesday, April 17, 2018.

SOLD OUT
To include your name on the waitlist, please call 312-201-9066.

AGENDA

7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. — Registration and Continental Breakfast
Badge Pickup and Security Inspection in the Lobby

8:00 a.m. — Welcome
William Testa, Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

8:05 a.m. — Introducing the Kearney Center for Public Pensions
Lew Collens, Chairman, Kearney Center for Public Pensions,
President Emeritus, Illinois Institute of Technology

8:15 a.m. — Illinois Public Pensions 101
Sarah Wetmore, Vice President and Research Director, Civic Federation
Illinois Pensions 101

8:30 a.m. — Q&A

8:45 a.m. — Break

9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. — Panel I: Pension Reform in Other States
Illinois is not unique in facing pension challenges—across the United States, governments have struggled to meet obligations. Speakers will discuss how pension reform was implemented and litigated in other states. What were the lessons learned and how can they be applied in Illinois?
    Moderator: Lois Scott, President, Epoch Advisors
    Panelists: 

• The Honorable Kasim Reed, Former Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia
• Bryan Jeffries, President, Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona
  • 2016 Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System Pension Reform
• Carol O'Cleireacain, Former Deputy Mayor, City of Detroit
  • Detroit’s Bankruptcy, Pensions & Retirees
  • Suggested Reading List

10:30 a.m. Break

10:45 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. — Panel II: What are the Options if Pension Liabilities Cannot be Changed?
In the aftermath of the 2015 Illinois Supreme Court decision striking down pension benefit reforms for state workers and retirees, many proposals have been made as to the next steps Illinois and local governments should take to address the pension crisis. Panelists will discuss some of those proposals, including finding sufficient revenue to fund the obligations, shifting payment obligations to local governments and amending the state constitution.

Moderator: Laurence Msall, President, Civic Federation
Panelists: 

• Tracy Gordon, Senior Fellow, Urban Institute
  • What is going on with public pensions? What are the options?
• James Spiotto, Managing Director, Chapman Strategic Advisors
  • Proposed Model Guidelines for a Constitutional Amendment or Legislative Public Pension Funding Policy to Address Illinois Public Pension Crisis
• Eric Madiar, Principal, Madiar Government Relations
  • ​​​​​​​The Senate President’s Contractual Proposal
  • Illinois Public Pensions: Where to from Here?
• Rick Mattoon, Senior Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
  • ​​​​​​​Can (or Should) a Statewide Property Tax Be Used To Payoff the Unfunded Pension Liability?
• Jeffrey Johnson, President, Municipal Employees' Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago
  • ​​​​​​​The Pension Quagmire​​​​​​​

12:15 p.m. — Luncheon

Keynote Panel — Rough Seas Ahead: What are the Obstacles to Resolving the Pension Crisis?

    Moderator: Lew Collens, Chairman, Kearney Center for Public Pensions,
                        President Emeritus, Illinois Institute of Technology 
    Panelists: 

• The Honorable Jim Edgar, Former Governor, State of Illinois
• The Honorable Elaine Nekritz, Former Illinois State Representative

1:30 p.m. — Adjournment
Laurence Msall, President, Civic Federation

To access a full copy of the agenda, please click here.

SOLD OUT
To include your name on the waitlist, please call 312-201-9066.