Saturday, January 5, 2013

No pension deal yet. Keep the pressure on. Call 888-412-6570. « Fred Klonsky

No pension deal yet. Keep the pressure on. Call 888-412-6570. « Fred Klonsky:


No pension deal yet. Keep the pressure on. Call 888-412-6570.

Call 888-412-6570.

ABC News is reporting trouble making a pension deal. Keep the pressure on.

January 5, 2013 (CHICAGO) (WLS) – The prospects for solving Illinois’ worst-in-the-nation pension crisis grow dim as talks between Governor Pat Quinn and top legislative leaders ended without an agreement.

 Governor Quinn met with lawmakers Saturday morning at the Thompson Center.

There’s still no deal as Illinois lawmakers make a last ditch effort to cut a pension deal to close the $96 billion funding gap before the new General Assembly is sworn in Wednesday.

 ”Progress has been made, but no deal yet and no solid agreement yet,” said Quinn press secretary Brooke Anderson.

 Quinn and legislative leaders sat down behind closed doors at the Thompson Center Saturday afternoon to work out differences on a pension reform effort that failed to make it out of the General Assembly before its deadline Thursday.

“What we’re talking about now is a pension system that is the worst-funded pension system in the country, and if we don’t do something in the area of benefit reform, we may not have a pension system down the road,” said State Rep. Tom Cross.

The summit comes after House Speaker Michael Madigan backed off his plan to shift a portion of teacher retirement benefits to local school districts.

Republicans have said that shifting those costs would raise property taxes.