Illinois legislators adjourned their spring session early Friday Morning -- 90 minutes past their midnight deadline. In a frenzy of last minute activity, they approved a new state budget, and authorized a massive expansion of gambling. But they're not finished at the capitol. The collapse of a pension overhaul means the General Assembly will probably return to Springfield this summer. It's likely legislators will be called back to the capitol because they failed to do anything to reduce the state's soaring pensions costs. It's something Governor Pat Quinn insisted on during his annual budget address: “We must stabilize and strengthen our pension systems to prevent them from swallowing up our core programs in education, in health care and in public safety.”
For a time, it appeared as if legislators were going to heed his call. Thursday morning, an Illinois House committee approved House Republican Leader Tom Cross's proposal to reduce the pensions of state and university employees, teachers, and even legislators themselves. By Thursday evening, it became apparent the measure was a victim of a dispute that's both partisan, and ideological. Cross's proposal had the state continue footing the bill for teachers' and university workers' retirement benefits. House Speaker Michael Madigan says that's a cost schools should absorb, and dropped his support for the plan. When it became apparent his fellow Democrats were following the Speakers' lead - and there wouldn't be enough votes to pass the measure - Cross announced he wasn't going to even try. Cross says legislators should take some time to let their emotions settle, and their tempers cool and then work to find a common ground.
The Senate did get something done with pensions. The voted to reduce state employees' and legislators' pensions while leaving teachers and university workers alone. The House didn't take up that version, and Republican Senator Dan Duffy called it a "joke" and a "farce." In a statement, Governor Quinn said "inaction is not a choice" and said he'll call a meeting in the coming week with the four legislative leaders to talk about pensions.
House Speaker Mike Madigan did praise the work that lawmaker did accomplish during the spring session including: ending the longstanding practice of lawmakers handing out free tuition at state universities; legislation to stop paying retired state employees' health care premiums; And like a dollar-a-pack tax hike on cigarettes. That was part of a broader effort to rein in rising Medicaid costs, which meant heavy cuts to the state's health care program for the poor. Those are all measures Quinn has signaled he'll sign into law. That's not the case with the gambling expansion measure before him. It allows slot machines at horse racetracks, and approves five new casinos, including in Chicago, Rockford, and Danville.
And, last but not least, legislators also sent Quinn a new state budget. Although it was largely crafted with bipartisan support in the House, Senate Republicans like Matt Murphy, of Palatine, charge that the Democrats' plan spends too much. Democratic Senator Kim Lightford of Maywood had the opposite problem - she says when it comes to education it doesn't spend enough.
The spending plan before Quinn also funds prisons, mental health centers, and institutions for the developmentally disabled. Those are all facilities Quinn has proposed closing. But even though the money is there, he has final say over their fate.
May 31st in the capitol usually brings with it a feeling of finality. But with the unanswered questions over pensions, gambling, state facilities, and the budget lawmakers are finding that finality is another scare resource.
