Politics

Ill. Governor Hopes Pension Reform Bill Will Pass

But measure to shift responsibility for educators' retirement funds from state to school districts abandoned

|

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn said on Friday he is optimistic that state lawmakers will pass pension reform legislation next week after a controversial but key component of the plan was dropped.

The Democratic governor said powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan told him he will defer a measure to gradually shift state payments for teacher pensions onto local school districts until a later date.

"That's a major, I think, step forward for all of us to put together a plan, a bipartisan plan, to do what the people of Illinois want," Quinn said after meeting with DuPage County officials.