By Ray Long and Alissa Groeninger
SPRINGFIELD — For months, Illinois Senate President John Cullerton has maintained that a high-profile measure aimed at getting a handle on the state's vastly underfunded pension system would be declared dead in the courts if it ever passed the General Assembly.
On Tuesday, Cullerton said he wants to take a shot at coming up with a pension cost reform plan that would pass constitutional muster. The North Side Democrat didn't offer much in the way of specifics, however.
The pension issue has drawn increasing scrutiny as the debt of the state retirement systems has grown to more than $80 billion and a catch-up payment plan has taken an ever-increasing toll on Illinois' annual budget.
The House proposal, spearheaded by Republican leader Tom Cross of Oswego and co-sponsored by Democratic Speaker Michael Madigan of Chicago, would give current employees three options: receive lower benefits, pay more now to keep current benefit levels or join a plan patterned after a 401(k) account. That approach, strongly opposed by unions, is stalled in the House.
Cullerton said the sort of reduction in pension benefits for current employees under the House bill is forbidden by the state constitution.
Cullerton, who also is eyeing changes in city of Chicago pensions, said he wants to work closely with unions to negotiate changes to the House plan. Cullerton suggested one path to a constitutional solution would be by following "basic contract law."
"If there's a reduction in the benefit, there has to be a corresponding consideration, and there has to be acceptance," Cullerton said.
The Senate president's comments come during an election year when runaway pension costs could be an issue used against candidates. It remains uncertain at best whether meaningful pension cost reforms could be negotiated in an election year. Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn has announced he would pull together a task force to look at solutions.
"We're not going to be relying on the Quinn administration to come up with a pension proposal, but if they do, it's all the better," Cullerton said.
Cullerton's concern about putting the House proposal into law is a fear the matter would be mired in lawsuits a prospect that could cost millions of dollars in legal fees and still not move the state forward after years of court fights.
A spokeswoman for Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno of Lemont said GOP lawmakers respect Cullerton's knowledge of the issue but noted he's not the final word on constitutional matters.
"It's widely believed this issue will have to be litigated before there is a resolution, and that it will end up in the Supreme Court," said Patty Schuh, Radogno's press secretary.
Cross defended his approach as constitutional but welcomed Cullerton's input on the matter. "This is going to take a bipartisan effort," Cross said. "But if you do a real solution that creates that long-term stability, then you have to understand that it will not be easy, and everybody is going to have to give a little bit."
SPRINGFIELD — For months, Illinois Senate President John Cullerton has maintained that a high-profile measure aimed at getting a handle on the state's vastly underfunded pension system would be declared dead in the courts if it ever passed the General Assembly.
On Tuesday, Cullerton said he wants to take a shot at coming up with a pension cost reform plan that would pass constitutional muster. The North Side Democrat didn't offer much in the way of specifics, however.
The pension issue has drawn increasing scrutiny as the debt of the state retirement systems has grown to more than $80 billion and a catch-up payment plan has taken an ever-increasing toll on Illinois' annual budget.
The House proposal, spearheaded by Republican leader Tom Cross of Oswego and co-sponsored by Democratic Speaker Michael Madigan of Chicago, would give current employees three options: receive lower benefits, pay more now to keep current benefit levels or join a plan patterned after a 401(k) account. That approach, strongly opposed by unions, is stalled in the House.
Cullerton said the sort of reduction in pension benefits for current employees under the House bill is forbidden by the state constitution.
Cullerton, who also is eyeing changes in city of Chicago pensions, said he wants to work closely with unions to negotiate changes to the House plan. Cullerton suggested one path to a constitutional solution would be by following "basic contract law."
"If there's a reduction in the benefit, there has to be a corresponding consideration, and there has to be acceptance," Cullerton said.
The Senate president's comments come during an election year when runaway pension costs could be an issue used against candidates. It remains uncertain at best whether meaningful pension cost reforms could be negotiated in an election year. Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn has announced he would pull together a task force to look at solutions.
"We're not going to be relying on the Quinn administration to come up with a pension proposal, but if they do, it's all the better," Cullerton said.
Cullerton's concern about putting the House proposal into law is a fear the matter would be mired in lawsuits a prospect that could cost millions of dollars in legal fees and still not move the state forward after years of court fights.
A spokeswoman for Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno of Lemont said GOP lawmakers respect Cullerton's knowledge of the issue but noted he's not the final word on constitutional matters.
"It's widely believed this issue will have to be litigated before there is a resolution, and that it will end up in the Supreme Court," said Patty Schuh, Radogno's press secretary.
Cross defended his approach as constitutional but welcomed Cullerton's input on the matter. "This is going to take a bipartisan effort," Cross said. "But if you do a real solution that creates that long-term stability, then you have to understand that it will not be easy, and everybody is going to have to give a little bit."