Cullerton: No pension reform action until January

Illinois Senate President John Cullerton says a vote on a plan to overhaul the state’s government worker pension program is most likely to come in January.

The Chicago Democrat told the Chicago Tribune on Thursday there aren’t enough votes to pass changes now, despite Gov. Pat Quinn’s calls for action. He says action will come when it’s clear who will stay in office and who will go.

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services last month lowered Illinois’ rating because of pension funding levels and lack of action on reform measures. The firm also said the state’s financial outlook is negative, in part because the state’s temporary income tax is scheduled to expire in 2015.

Quinn spokeswoman Brooke Anderson said the governor is “disappointed” by Cullerton’s assessment of pension reform prospects.