Quinn: Pension crisis is Illinois’ ‘fiscal cliff’

Gov. Pat Quinn is calling on lawmakers to resolve Illinois’ pension crisis in the next week, calling it “our state’s own fiscal cliff.”

In a news release Wednesday, Quinn says he salutes President Barack Obama and Congress for coming up with a bipartisan solution to avert the so-called fiscal cliff and prevent “devastating fiscal disaster.” He says Illinois legislators now must do the same in regard to the state’s $96 billion pension crisis.

The Senate returned to Springfield on Wednesday for the start of the lame duck session. The House is scheduled to return to Springfield on Sunday.

Quinn says he wants lawmakers to send him a bill by Jan. 9, when the current session ends and new members take office.

He says Illinois can’t move forward without pension reform.