House Speaker Michael Madigan was re-elected as the Speaker of the House yesterday, and he says Illinois' pension crisis remains the most serious problem lawmakers face.
The Chicago Democrat addressed newly-sworn in House members Wednesday at the University of Illinois at Springfield.
"Many members of the legislature have work diligently on attempting to solve the problem with the fiscal condition of the pension system," Madigan said. "It's an extremely difficult issue because in order to achieve some improvement, part of the solution would be to tell our people that there will be a change in the promised benefits they receive."
House lawmakers adjourned the lame-duck session Tuesday without calling for a vote on pension-related legislation.
Madigan also stressed the importance of addressing what's known as the "cost-shift," where the state picks up downstate and suburban school district retirement costs.
Madigan calls it a "free lunch" that needs to be addressed.
Representative Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, joined the Morning Newswatch with Tom Miller earlier today, and said that couldn't be further from the truth.
"He can say that because he's in Chicago. Chicago schools have argued, 'Well, we pay for our own pension,'" Bost said. "What they don't mention is every two to three to five years, they come to the state legislature and asked for money to offset their pension costs."
Representative Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, joined the Morning Newswatch with Tom Miller earlier today, and said that couldn't be further from the truth.
"He can say that because he's in Chicago. Chicago schools have argued, 'Well, we pay for our own pension,'" Bost said. "What they don't mention is every two to three to five years, they come to the state legislature and asked for money to offset their pension costs."
The issue was a sticking point on pension talks. Madigan said earlier that he was willing to set it aside temporarily to accomplish some pension overhaul.
Madigan was one of the four leaders in the General Assembly to be re-elected to their post. Senate President John Cullerton, House Minority Leader Tom Cross and Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno also retained their positions.
Madigan was one of the four leaders in the General Assembly to be re-elected to their post. Senate President John Cullerton, House Minority Leader Tom Cross and Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno also retained their positions.
(Information from The Associated Press was used in this article. Copyright 2013, all rights reserved.)
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