Illinois House adjourns without pension vote

Illinois House adjourns lame-duck session without action on worst-in-nation pension crisis

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- The Illinois House has adjourned its lame-duck session without taking action to solve the state's multibillion pension problem.

House Speaker Michael Madigan made the motion to adjourn the chamber Tuesday just before 5 p.m.

Members had expected to vote on a last-ditch attempt by Gov. Pat Quinn to save the broken-down pension talks.

Quinn proposed setting up a commission that could recommend changes to bridge a $96 billion deficit in public-employee pension accounts. The commission had until April 30 to make recommendations, which would have taken effect unless the Legislature voted against them.

Top lawmakers feared the move would have been illegal.

A new General Assembly will be sworn in Wednesday.