Kifowit-Supported Measure Preventing Pension Payments to Felons Signed into Law

AURORA, Ill. – State employees convicted of job-related felonies will be subject to loss of their taxpayer-funded pensions beginning June 1, thanks to legislation supported by state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, and signed into law last week.

“Public employees who are convicted of breaking the law while serving their communities should not be rewarded at a cost to working families,” Kifowit said. “It is disgraceful that the stain of corruption should continue to harm the taxpayers of Illinois.”

Kifowit supported Senate Bill 2809 following failed attempts by the Attorney General to strip disgraced former Chicago Police Supervisor John Burge of his pension. Burge was found guilty in 2010 of lying about torturing over 200 suspects from 1972 to 1991 in order to gain confessions. Even following his conviction and prison sentence, Burge still receives $4,000 a month from his publicly-funded pension. Under the new law, the Attorney General may bring civil action to have the pensions of those found guilty of committing felonies while exercising the duties of their job terminated.

“At a time when Illinois faces a severe pension crisis, the last place that funds should be going to are the pockets of individuals who grossly violated the law while serving the people,” Kifowit said. “We need to do more to protect taxpayer dollars and prevent taxpayers from being on the hook for criminals who took advantage of them.”

For more information, please contact Representative Kifowit’s constituent service office by phone at 630-585-1308, by email at Stephanie.Kifowit@att.net, or by visiting www.ILDistrict84.com.