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Pension Reform Goes Nowhere; Lawmakers Go Home

No pension legislation moved through the Illinois General Assembly during Friday's special legislative session.

Democrats pushed along a plan to cut pension benefits for  state elected politicians and no one else, but opponents -- including Representative Darlene Senger (R-Naperville) -- called the proposal disingenuous.

"I am not going to vote for this. I think it's a farce," said Senger.

"I think we're basically coming out and saying we're doing something and we're absolutely not, and it's a real disservice for those who live in this state."

The proposed  measure would have given current legislators a choice of getting smaller growth in their pension checks or losing their free health  insurance.  Future lawmakers would not get any state retirement benefits at all.

Negotiations to include state employees, teachers, university workers and judges in a pension overhaul failed to produce an  agreement.

Thanks to Illinois Public Radio

Rich is TSPR's News Director.