CHICAGO A bipartisan deal aimed at ending Illinois’ long-running budget impasse stumbled on Wednesday when a key pension measure failed to pass in the state Senate.
Following the passage of three other bills tied together in a legislative package, a measure to ease Illinois’ $130 billion unfunded pension liability was rejected in a 29-18 vote, with 10 members voting “present.”
Even though Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno crafted the package with Democratic Senate President John Cullerton, she still urged her members not to vote in the affirmative because disagreements remained on some of the 12 bills, particularly on school funding and workers’ compensation.
