By Hal Dardick Chicago Tribune
A Cook County judge Wednesday rejected Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s attempt to delay the effects of a ruling last week that tossed out the city’s effort to cut pension benefits for City Hall workers and laborers pending an appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court.
Judge Rita Novak’s ruling means that unless the state Supreme Court quickly steps in, two city pension funds would have to restore higher benefits to retired city workers and take out less money from current workers’ paychecks. The city might also have to make up for reduced benefits since Jan. 1 and return the money already collected to workers who have been paying more into the retirement accounts. read more
