The Quinn Bill has been the subject of much discussion lately, and generated some interesting comments at my first post. The Tribune wrote a Sunday editorial supporting the position that localities should not be stuck with Quinn Bill costs if the State defunds its portion through the budget process. Obviously I agree with that, but the editorial also contained some other food for thought that should be considered.

The Tribune has a stated opposition to the Quinn Bill itself, and favors abolition. In spite of that they sensibly call for a phase out of benefits, rather than an abrupt termination. A phase out has many attractive features, including fundamental fairness to current police officers working on the basis of existing pay scales, and fundamental fairness to municipalities, who will have additional time to try to incorporate new fiscal reality into their collective bargaining agreements.

Senator Baddour, in his comments, accurately states that no community had to accept the Quinn Bill or place Quinn guarantees in collective bargaining agreements. I agree. But as the Tribune points out that is less important than how we collectively extricate ourselves from the financial straightjacket that has the potential to cripple service delivery at the local level. There are many provisions that exist in collective bargaining agreements, locally and at the state level, that will need to be changed due to the fiscal meltdown we are experiencing. And I realize that striking collective bargaining provisions is a serious business. That is why, in the case of Quinn, I argue for a one year moratorium only, with that one year exemption only applying to the state portion that may be unfunded by the Legislature. And that is why the editorials approach of a phased in solution makes the most sense.

As far as the Legislature goes I recognize that they have some pretty tough choices to make. I will disagree with those choices if I think that our community will not be well served by their actions, but it is not my intent to downplay the serious nature of the problems they face. They have been responsive to me as well as the City, and even if we disagree from time to time I do respect them. (Especially the great and powerful Senate Chair of Ways and Means Steve Panagiotakos).

Read the Tribune editorial here.