Warren Buffett once remarked he wouldn’t invest in high-debt states like Illinois because the taxes to cover those pension debts would come out from his companies. The first step in solving the pension crisis is to stop making the problem bigger. All new government hires must be enrolled into a defined contribution 401(k)-like plan, one modeled after the retirement option currently offered to Illinois public university employees. Government workers — not irresponsible lawmakers in Springfield — should have control over their retirements. Moving to 401(k)s won’t reduce the nation’s worst debt load Illinoisans are burdened with, but it will stop new debts from accruing and demonstrate to the rest of the country that Illinois is finally taking steps to address its pension crisis. Ending double-dipping and pension spiking — practices that no private sector Illinoisan has access to, but has to pay for — is also needed. More significant pension reform requires a state constitutional amendment, and I will work to bring lawmakers, the unions and taxpayers to the table. Under no circumstances will I expand pension benefits like Gov. Pritzker recently did for Chicago pensions.