But Cross saved his harshest vitriol for the "mind-boggling" sweetheart deal for the two teachers union lobbyists. Steven Preckwinkle, political director for the Illinois Federation of Teachers, and David Piccioli, a fellow lobbyist for the group, took advantage of a small window opened by lawmakers that allowed the two to count their years working as union employees toward a state teacher pension once they each substitute-taught for a single day in 2007. Neither had prior teaching experience.
"The minute you cut that deal, your ability to negotiate for your union and for your teachers was over. Over," Cross said. "In essence, you were bought and paid for by this process. You could no longer be an effective advocate for the teachers of the state of Illinois."
Based on his salary history so far, Preckwinkle could earn a pension of about $108,000 a year — more than double what the average teacher gets — and both lobbyists stand to get more than $1 million each from a pension fund that has less than half the assets it needs to cover promises made to tens of thousands of public school teachers.
Preckwinkle and Piccioli are still on the job, but they might not be kicked out of the teacher pension system without a fight, because their spokesman, David Ormsby, said they are "reviewing their legal options." Ormsby said the legislation is "blatantly unconstitutional" because it reduces a legally granted pension in midstream, underscoring a long-held belief in Springfield.
