SPRINGFIELD - With only 20 Democrats voting for the pension reform plan Tuesday, Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) has 10 Republicans to thank for getting SB 1 past the Senate. Unions staunchly opposed the plan and demanded those they put into office oppose SB 1. It is unlikely that Cullerton could have twisted enough Democrats' arms to get the plan to the governor without endangering his super- majority. The Senate numbers worked out this way:
During the Senate debate on SB 1 Tuesday, State Senator Kyle McCarter (R-Highland) said he'd be more inclined to support the reform plan "if this bucket didn't have so many holes it." (Video below)
And State Senator Dan Duffy (R-Barrington) said he wasn't interested in following the example of federal legislation about which it was said "you have to pass the bill to find what's in it."
More on the Senate debate HERE.
