Illinois Supreme Court Rules Pension-gutting Law Unconstitutional

Here are some choice quotes from the ruling:

"Our economy is and has always been subject to fluctuations, sometimes very extreme fluctuations," Karmeier said.

"The General Assembly may find itself in crisis, but it is a crisis which other public pension systems managed to avoid and… it is a crisis for which the General Assembly itself is largely responsible," 

"The financial challenges facing state and local government in Illinois are well known and significant. In ruling as we have today, we do not mean to minimize the gravity of the state’s problems or the magnitude of the difficulty facing our elected representatives."

"It is our obligation, however, just as it is theirs, to ensure that the law is followed. That is true at all times. It is especially important in times of crisis when, as this case demonstrates, even clear principles and long-standing precedent are threatened. Crisis is not an excuse to abandon the rule of law." 

Read more on the Chicago Tribune's website...