Illinois lawmakers began November with an election that solidified Democratic majorities and they will finish the month by returning to the Capitol.
Their annual fall meetings are called veto sessions because lawmakers are supposed to consider legislation the governor rejected or changed. Those could include statewide regulation of plastic bags and a plan to let cancer treatment centers reject job applicants who smoke.
No pension legislation moved through the Illinois General Assembly during Friday's special legislative session.
Democrats pushed along a plan to cut pension benefits for state elected politicians and no one else, but opponents -- including Representative Darlene Senger (R-Naperville) -- called the proposal disingenuous.
"I am not going to vote for this. I think it's a farce," said Senger.
"I think we're basically coming out and saying we're doing something and we're absolutely not, and it's a real disservice for those who live in this state."
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn's office is touting a one-page analysis claiming higher education will suffer if lawmakers fail to address Illinois' pension problem.
In the so-called study, Quinn's budget office estimates that state funding of higher education will steadily decline over the next five years.
The projections show more money would be needed to pay for university and community college employees' pensions, which would leave less for schools and scholarships for needy students.
