The Republican leader in the Illinois House doesn’t think there will be a deal on pension reforms when a Special Session convenes this week in Springfield.  Tom Cross says a proposal in the Senate to deal with two of the state’s five pension systems would likely be challenged in court and cut off all pension reform negotiations…



Cross says the Senate proposal that just focuses on two of the five systems only nibbles around the edges of the issue and must go further.

Illinois union leaders representing teachers, firefighters, police officers and other public employees say they are willing to help resolve the Illinois pension.  The coalition known as We Are One Illinois says they want to sit down with legislators and hash out a deal that would protect current and future retirees. They say the state must guarantee pension funding, close corporate tax loopholes and make no changes that would affect current retirees. In exchange, workers are willing to pay more retirement contributions.  Members of the coalition include Illinois AFL-CIO, AFSCME Council 31, Fraternal Order of Police, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Police Benevolent & Protective Association and SEIU Local 73.  The governor is calling lawmakers to Springfield on Friday to take up public pension reform.