Robert Reed, the BGA’s director of investigations and programming, joined a panel of experts to discuss pension abuse and the need for reform at an Oct. 22 forum sponsored by DePaul University’s Center for Financial Services and the locally-based fiscal watchdog group Truth in Accounting.

The event was entitled: “Who’s Afraid of Good Governance? State Fiscal Crises, Public Pension Underfunding, and the Resistance to Governance Reform.” Truth in Accounting’s founder Sheila Weinberg (far left) co-moderated the panel.

BGA’s Reed (far right) and the other panelists (from left to right) — Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland economist Tom Fitzpatrick IV, Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer and financial writer Chris Tobe — discussed how the state’s pension crisis is threatening the fiscal health of government at all levels in Illinois.

The group also addressed why lawmakers’ inability to pass serious public pension reform is taking a deep toll on Illinois’ economy and its ability to compete with other states for jobs and economic growth.

Pension abuse and pension reform are a main focus of BGA investigations and policy initiatives.

The forum was held at DePaul University’s Driehaus College of Business’ Loop campus at One East Jackson Blvd.