ILL Lawmakers Gear Up for Spring Session

The Illinois House returns to work as the General Assembly gears up for a spring session that promises a continuing struggle over how to close a $96 billion funding gap in the state's public-employee pension system. House members will be in session Wednesday and Thursday. Their Senate counterparts return next week and both houses will meet in joint session Feb. 6 for Governor Pat Quinn's State of the State address.  The last meeting followed a furious but disappointing six days closing the last session. Lame-duck lawmakers failed to ink a deal to remedy years of pension under funding and reduce the multi billion-dollar annual payment to retirement programs.