SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois lawmakers who failed to win reform for the state's $96 billion pension deficit last night before the end of the lame-duck General Assembly's session say they'll start anew today.
Gov. Pat Quinn says bond houses are likely to downgrade the state's credit rating as early as today — the day a new Legislature is sworn in.
Quinn hoped the House would OK a bill reducing the state's financial burden through greater employee contributions and less-generous benefits. It didn't even get a vote.
Rep. Elaine Nekritz (NEH'-krihts) — a Northbrook Democrat — says she will start over with a bill similar to the failed one. Senate President John Cullerton will do the same with his plan, which offers employees a choice of tough medicine.
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The bill is SB1673
Online: http://www.ilga.gov.
