Chicago City Wire

Ammie Kessem is upset that even as the state's residents struggle to stay afloat many school districts are spiking teachers' salaries at the end of their careers so they get a bigger pension payout -- pensions paid for by the taxpayer. 

"I’m all for protecting our teachers and I do feel that this profession is drastically under-appreciated but when our State is struggling to make ends meet, I do not think it is in the best interest of the taxpayers to be practicing these policies," Kessem, who is running for the 19th House district against incumbent Rep. Robert Martwick (D-Chicago), told Chicago City Wire. 

Kessem explained that pension benefits have increased exponentially, creating a disproportionate separation between government employees and average taxpayers. 

Rep. Robert Martwick (D-Chicago)

"Pension benefits have increased 1,100 times faster than household income," Kessem said. "The taxpayers of this state deserve better. People are fleeing this state in record numbers because they can no longer afford to live here due to the exorbitant amount of taxes we are forced to pay. All this while many of our school districts are failing our children."

Kessem ended with a call to action for the State of Illinois and local governments. 

"We need to end this type of practice once and for all," she said. "Our kids deserve better and they deserve to not have this financial disaster strapped to their futures."