Public school teachers and their supporters protest against a pension reform bill at the Kentucky State Capitol on April 2nd, 2018, in Frankfort, Kentucky.
After a court ruling, Illinois' legacy of borrowing to cover public employee pensions landed a $2.2 billion problem in Chicago's lap. It won't be the last major city to struggle with this situation.
Teachers receive salary and pension benefits later in their careers, which works to the advantage of many, including the unions that lead them, but this rewards structure could be keeping lots of talented individuals out of the classrooms.
Two new proposals look to greatly increase the number of people who have adequate retirement plans, one by encouraging workers to save and the other by requiring them to.