People Ex Rel. Illinois Federation of Teachers v. Lindberg

These consolidated appeals from the circuit court of Cook County involve class actions by members of several teachers’ pension funds and others generally challenging the constitutional and statutory legality of Governor Daniel Walker’s item reduction of certain appropriations made to these pension funds for the fiscal year 1974. The respective trial courts dismissed the complaints, and we granted direct appeal. 50 Ill.2d R. 302(b).

In cause No. 46753 plaintiffs, the Illinois Federation of Teachers, and certain retired teachers and active teachers, filed a multicount complaint against George W.…