Quinn Refuses To Budge On July 9 Pension Deadline
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Illinois Governor Pat Quinn is taking a hard line when it comes to pension reform and refusing to budge from the deadline he set.
The Governor tells CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine that the bill better be on his desk July 9 or else.
Quinn didn't hide his dismay when told the legislators of the 10 member conference committee appointed last week and facing the deadline haven't even met yet.
"It's disappointing. It's time for the legislators all 10 of them to get to work," said Quinn. "I've seen conference committees in the past the moment they were appointed they got to work. We've passed eight days and tomorrow I guess they are meeting for the first time. I think that have to be put on notice that they people of Illinois expect them by July 9 to have a plan that the members of both house can vote on to reform the pensions."
If the committee doesn't have a pension bill on his desk by the deadline, Quinn says, "We'll have consequences, but it's important for the legislators to know now that they've got to do their job."
While the Governor remains adamant, sources from both parties tell CBS 2's Jay Levine it may not be possible to get something to the Governor by July 9 because any compromise they'd reach might be too complicated to have ready, and there's no sign yet of anyone willing to compromise.