Pension reform back to square one
Updated: February 28, 2013
SPRINGFIELD -- After more than three years of stalled talks, lawmakers are taking a stand. They want a pension fix, and they want it now.
Lawmakers were supposed to vote on a series of reforms earlier Thursday. Instead, they're back at square one. The debate hit its boiling point.
Speaker Madigan wanted them to vote up or down on different issues. Sort of like a "test vote" before the real thing. But, Republicans refused to participate calling the whole thing a "game" and a "joke."
They say they only want to take action if it's going to actually solve the problem. So, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are suggesting putting everything else on hold until they can nail something down.
There is some insight to be learned from Thursday's talks though. Even without Republican votes, each of the amendments failed by a landslide. They included things like doing away with cost-of-living adjustments and raising the retirement age to 67. That only got a single "yes" vote.
Lawmakers were supposed to vote on a series of reforms earlier Thursday. Instead, they're back at square one. The debate hit its boiling point.
Speaker Madigan wanted them to vote up or down on different issues. Sort of like a "test vote" before the real thing. But, Republicans refused to participate calling the whole thing a "game" and a "joke."
They say they only want to take action if it's going to actually solve the problem. So, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are suggesting putting everything else on hold until they can nail something down.
There is some insight to be learned from Thursday's talks though. Even without Republican votes, each of the amendments failed by a landslide. They included things like doing away with cost-of-living adjustments and raising the retirement age to 67. That only got a single "yes" vote.
