House Speaker Mike Madigan has rejected a request from a coalition of public sector unions to take part in a summit on pension reform.
Madigan says there have been plenty of opportunities in recent years to forge a bipartisan deal on pensions, but he says labor groups have not been cooperative.
Madigan says it’s time for the unions to offer, quote, “an honest proposal” that puts government employees on par with the private sector in terms of benefits.
The “We Are One” coalition says it regrets Madigan’s decision, but says it will keep trying to find a “fair, constitutional” solution to the pension crisis.
