Illinois House Rejects Speaker's Pension Reform Proposals

Not a good way to start

The Illinois House of Representatives on Thursday dealt a setback to efforts to reform the state's underfunded pension system, soundly defeating several proposals to make substantial changes affecting public sector workers.

The proposals had been put forward by House Speaker Michael Madigan to test support for major reforms.

After brief debate, the House voted 66 to 2 to reject a proposal to terminate cost-of-living increases for retired workers. It voted 62 to 5 against suspending cost-of-living increases until the state pension systems are 80 percent funded.

Madigan's proposal to raise the retirement age to 67 for pension eligibility failed 66 to 1 and a proposal that workers contribute 5 percent more to the cost of their pensions failed 61 to 3.