Illinois’ pension crisis is the result of decades of politicians skipping payments and pushing the cost down the road. The first principle has to be keeping our promises to working people. Public workers earned their pensions, and Illinois cannot balance its books by breaking commitments to teachers, nurses, first responders, and other public employees. I’m proud to be supported by organized labor because I believe people who devote their careers to public service deserve retirement security they can count on. Pension costs also shape what Illinois can invest in and what families pay. When obligations are ignored, the consequences show up later through budget pressure, higher property taxes, and underinvestment in schools, public safety, and infrastructure. As a small business owner who helps run a family business and meets payroll, I believe in facing obligations head-on and planning responsibly. Illinois needs steady discipline year after year. That means making the required pension contributions on time, strengthening transparency and long-term budgeting, and finding real savings and efficiencies where we can so taxpayers aren’t asked to pay more because government runs inefficiently. We also need to grow the economy and tax base in a way that creates good jobs and reduces pressure on homeowners, because the only durable solution is one that protects workers while stabilizing Illinois’ finances long-term.