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.