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GOP Lawmaker Looks Closely at Proposed IL Pension Plan

By on February 21, 2013

CHICAGO (AP) — A top Republican leader is scrutinizing a new Illinois pension overhaul that would make a state income tax hike permanent.

Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno said yesterday the good news is that there are several pension proposals on the table. But she says the bad news is that there isn’t consensus.

She questions whether Democratic state Rep. Lou Lang’s proposal is fair. He’s calling for making the income-tax increase of 2011 permanent. That money would be dedicated to payments the state needs to make to catch up with a roughly $96 billion deficit in its pension accounts.

But Radogno says those funds were dedicated to help fill a budget hole and schools or public safety could also use the money.