House passes pension plan
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois House Thursday narrowly backed a bipartisan pension-reform package pushed by House Speaker Michael Madigan in a move Gov. Pat Quinn called “the biggest step to date” in solving the state’s nearly $100 billion pension crisis.
In a sober debate lasting a little more than an hour, the House voted 62-51, with six members voting present. Sixty votes were needed for Madigan’s measure to clear the House. It now moves to the Senate.
“This bill has been worked assiduously by many, many people. Obviously, it does not meet every request. Obvi- ously, it does not make everybody happy,” Madigan said as the normally bustling House chamber quieted.
“I think we’re all familiar with the severe fiscal problems of our state, and the fiscal problems of the pension systems are a large, large part of that problem. In my judgment, this is a critical action that must be taken now,” Madigan said.
Twenty-two House Republicans voted for Madigan’s measure, with Democrats accounting for the rest of the “yes” votes. Among the Republicans backing the plan was House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego).
Cross said current and retired state workers, university employees and downstate and suburban teachers had every right to be “mad as hell” that the state’s pension systems are in fiscal ruin and bore no blame for the worst-in-thenation mess.
While acknowledging the hurt being inflicted on them, Cross went on to describe Madigan’s approach as the only way to restore financial stability to the state and ensure the state’s pension systems exist into the future.
“It provides certainty to employees,” Cross said. “You may not like it. But it provides certainty you will have a pension.”
No sooner than the roll call was locked in, Quinn heaped praise on the House’s action.
“Today the Illinois House of Representatives took the biggest step to date towards restoring fiscal stability to Illinois,” the governor said in a prepared statement.