In the case of Illinois the state Constitution is indeed a suicide pact.
Illinois also has one of the most generous welfare states in the nation. They could start there.
Every Illinois republican should have known, for at least the past year, that Bruce Rauner is as liberal as many Democrats. He wants to increase the sales tax and minimum wage. He’s pro-choice, and he agrees with the law that allows illegal aliens to get driver’s licenses.
Ill. state constitution says you can’t lower or not pay those pensions. Does it say you can’t tax them? Slap a 20%, or whatever other number makes the math work, tax on Ill. public pensions, to be taken out of their pension checks in advance. Then apply those collections to the next round of pension checks. Don’t hold it to any higher legal standard than that used to justify any of the other taxes in the state, just sell it politically. You could also make it progressive and brag of taxing the unions’ fat cats to help the little guys keep their meager pensions.