Illinois Pension Debate Expected To Move To Courts

07:39

December 05, 2013

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn speaks during a news conference announcing he would use his line-item veto on a bill that would suspend Illinois Lawmakers' pay during a new conference Wednesday, July 10, 2013, in Chicago. (M. Spencer Green/AP) — Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to sign Illinois' pension overhaul later this week. Unions are preparing to sue the state. (M. Spencer Green/AP)

Update 3:20 p.m.: Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has signed the pension reform bill.

Now that lawmakers have passed an overhaul of Illinois's government worker pension systems, the fight is expected to move to the courts.

Provisions of the overhaul include raising the retirement age for many state workers and cutting some benefits. The overhaul is estimated to save the state $160 billion over 30 years.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn is expected to sign the bill by the end of the week.

As soon as he does, labor groups are expected to sue. They argue that the Illinois constitution does not allow lawmakers to cut benefits for workers and retirees.

Ron McNeil, dean of the College of Business and Management at the University of Illinois, Springfield, and Dan Montgomery, president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, join Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson to discuss Illinois's pension debate.

Guests

Ron McNeil, dean of the College of Business and Management at the University of Illinois, Springfield.
Dan Montgomery, president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers.

This segment aired on December 5, 2013.