Illinois

and I'm coming close to feeling that my first inclination (to vote NO) is the right one.

Amending the Constitution is a big f**ing deal. This is essentially putting in a filibuster rule for any legislation or proposal to increase pension benefits to public employees. It means a minority could constantly block any proposed changes. Also the definition of a pension benefit is ill-defined.

I realize that it's too easy for politicians to promise benefits into the far future (as a political favor), without having to account now for how these will be paid for. (And indeed, that is how Illinois got into the mess it's in right now.) But turning the tables and making collective bargaining and pension increases harder (if not impossible) is not the answer.

Politicians have to take the responsibility to make the hard decisions themselves, not to kick the can down the road or to make a rule that makes it too easy to wiggle out of any decision.

I'm pretty decided I will vote NO on this amendment. Though I have a feeling it will pass (especially after it passed both houses of the legislature almost unanimously).