"The president of the Illinois Senate, John Cullerton ... first will seek to pass a bill similar to the measure the House approved late last month that would impose restrictions on cost-of-living increases to pension payments to retirees. As a back up, in case those reforms hit a constitutional roadblock, Cullerton said he will seek to offer workers a choice. They will either receive the benefits already promised, but have to forego state-funded healthcare care [sic] in retirement, or they will accept limits on cost-of-living increases in their pensions and still have access to state-funded healthcare."  MORE >>