Although it was described as one of the most important issues of the legislative session, a pension reform deal will have to wait until later this summer at the earliest.
A pension plan shepherded by House Republican Leader Tom Cross had to be shelved when not enough Democratic votes could be found for passage. Most Democrats sided with House Speaker Mike Madigan, who opposed the Cross bill because it did not include a provision to let the state shift some pension costs back to local school districts, colleges and universities.
Governor Pat Quinn says the state does not have the option of failing to take action on pensions, and indicated lawmakers would be called back for a special session to hammer out a solution to the impasse.
