To the Editor: The Illinois General Assembly started its new session, and for the next two years there will be little done to improve Illinois.

The first priority of the new General Assembly is pension reform, but the Illinois Democratic Party is beholden to the Illinois public-sector unions. Any pension changes will be contested by the union membership, the retired and especially those state employees close to retirement. Also, the legislators and judges could be effected by any pension adjustments. Expect no meaningful pension reforms.

Currently, there are discussions about limiting access to weapons and ammunition for residents in Illinois. Reviewing past elections, any legislator that opposed the NRA or other gun advocate groups generally lost his or her next election. Weapons can be purchased legally in any state – how can Illinois impose any restrictions on those purchases? Illinois does not have the resources to enforce any change in the Second Amendment.