Talks on Illinois pension crisis end without deal

Discussions between Gov. Pat Quinn and legislative leaders on Illinois' massive pension crisis have ended without agreement even though at least one major sticking point has been set aside for now.

Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, however, says Saturday's meeting in Chicago allowed key players to better understand one another's positions. He says they will keep working toward a proposal to take to lawmakers before the end of the current General Assembly on Wednesday.

Madigan says he's "anxious to pass a bill" and remains willing to defer a decision on a proposal to shift pension costs for public school teachers from the state to local districts.

But he says other obstacles remain, including differences over cost-of-living adjustments for employees and retirees, and whether to require workers to contribute more.