Pension Reform Bill Narrowly Passes in Illinois, Faces Court Battle Over Constitutionality

Would save the state $160 billion over 30 years

After narrowly passing the Senate with no votes to spare and the House with two votes more than needed, a controversial pension reform bill is headed to Gov. Pat Quinn, who says he will sign it.

Next stop after that: the courts.

Senate Bill 1, a product of a 10-member bipartisan House-Senate conference committee and the four top legislative leaders, barely cleared the General Assembly on Tuesday with a 30-24 roll call in the Senate and 62-53 in the House.