March 24, 2016

Top 20 State Legislator Pension Recipients

By Mark Wachtler
March 24, 2016. Springfield. (ONN) Illinois and Chicago may have the most bankrupt and unfunded pension funds in the country. But for members of the elite establishment – former State Representatives and State Senators – there is apparently no shortage of taxpayer funds to make them and their family members multi-millionaires. Here is a list of the top recipients of the Illinois General Assembly pension program. Readers will find some very familiar names.

Gary Hannig, former IL State Rep, will receive an estimated lifetime pension of $5.24 million for working part time as a State Representative. Image courtesy of WN.com.

Recently, Taxpayers United of America released a list of the largest State Legislature pension recipients. Illinois State Representatives and State Senators have their own separate pension plan. Since being a State Legislator is a part time job and was never meant to be a life-long career, one wonders why they need a pension plan in the first place. Especially when many of the esteemed members of this list are double or triple-dippers – receiving multiple taxpayer-funded pensions at the same time.

Former Illinois State Reps and State Senators receiving the highest pension payments (fromTaxpayers United of America and Reboot Illinois):
 
1. Gary Hannig
State Representative (D-Litchfield)
Estimated lifetime pension: $5.24 million
 
2. Dan Rutherford
State Treasurer, State Senator (R-Chenoa)
Estimated lifetime pension: $4.96 million
 
3. Judy Erwin
State Representative (D-Chicago)
Estimated lifetime pension: $4.94 million
 
4. Jim Edgar
Governor (R)
Estimated lifetime pension: $4.75 million

5. Robert Molaro
State Representative (D-Chicago)
Estimated lifetime pension: $4.31 million
 
6. Thomas Homer
State Representative (D-Canton)
Estimated lifetime pension: $4.24 million
 
7. Carl Hawkinson
State Senator (R-Galesburg)
Estimated lifetime pension: $4.11 million
 
8. Samuel McGrew
State Representative (D-Galesburg)
Estimated lifetime pension: $3.92 million
 
9. John Friedland
State Senator (R-South Elgin)
Estimated lifetime pension: $3.89 million
 
10. Edward Petka
State Senator (R-Plainfield)
Estimated lifetime pension: $3.68 million
 
11. Arthur Berman
State Senator (D-Chicago)
Estimated lifetime pension: $3.67 million

12. Roland Burris
Attorney General, Comptroller (D)
Estimated lifetime pension: $3.46 million
 
13. James Thompson
Governor (R)
Estimated lifetime pension: $3.38 million
 
14. Timothy Degan
State Senator (D-Chicago)
Estimated lifetime pension: $3.32 million
 
15. Pat Quinn
Governor (D)
Estimated lifetime pension: $3.25 million
 
16. Lee Daniels
State Representative (R-Elmhurst)
Estimated lifetime pension: $2.81 million
 
17. Richard M. Daley
State Senator, State’s Attorney, Chicago Mayor (D-Chicago)
Estimated lifetime pension: $2.28 million

18. Doris Karpiel
State Senator (R-Carol Stream)
Estimated lifetime pension: $2.02 million
 
19. Emil Jones
State Senator (D-Chicago)
Estimated lifetime pension: $1.66 million
 
20. James ‘Pate’ Philip
State Senator (R-Addison)
Estimated lifetime pension: $1.52 million
 
*Lifetime pension amounts based on an average life expectancy of 85 and a Constitutionally-required 3 percent annual cost of living increase. Figures do not include recipients’ other taxpayer-funded pensions from Chicago, Cook County or other counties, municipalities or government agencies.

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