Quinn Says Pension Panel’s Framework Is ‘Positive’

Gov. Pat Quinn says the outline of a pension reform proposal from a bipartisan panel is "positive indeed.''

However, the Chicago Democrat was less clear about whether he's fully behind it or not, saying he wants to see final details.

He told reporters Sunday after an unrelated event that the panel tasked with coming up with a way to address the state's nearly $100 billion pension problem has made progress.

“That’s holding back our investment in important things in schools and public safety and health care," he said.  "And so if we can erase the liability with a bill along the lines of what we’ve seen some concepts on, that’s really our ultimate goal.”

Pensions have been Quinn's top issue. He recently halted lawmakers' pay after lawmakers missed another one of his deadlines to solve the issue. 

The pension committee is considering a plan that would, among other things, end automatic 3 percent cost-of-living increases for retirees. Increases would instead be linked to the rate of inflation.

 Committee members say the details are preliminary.