Daley: Quinn should hold marathon talks on pension

Former White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley is calling on Gov. Pat Quinn to hold around-the-clock talks to resolve the state's $97 billion pension shortfall.

Daley will hold a news conference in Chicago on Monday to urge the governor to get more aggressive in trying to solve the worst-in-the-nation crisis.

Daley has formed an exploratory committee as he considers running against Quinn in next spring's Democratic primary.

Daley campaign spokesman Pete Giangreco told The Associated Press on Monday that “a confluence of issues” in the last week has increased the urgency for Illinois lawmakers to solve the state's pension problem.

Giangreco says that includes the lowering of Chicago's bond rating, Detroit's bankruptcy and a higher Illinois unemployment rate.

He says the state's problem is “beyond a crisis now.”