February 28, 2013 By: Mike Riopell and Doug T. Graham SPRINGFIELD — Illinois House Republicans today refused to participate in test votes on severe public pension cuts and Democrats rejected the proposals harshly. Two proposals to slash retired teachers’ and …

February 27, 2013 By: Mike Riopell SPRINGFIELD — Illinois House Republican Leader Tom Cross, Democratic Rep. Elaine Nekritz and a handful of other suburban lawmakers pitched a new plan Wednesday to cut the state’s pension costs, hoping a bipartisan presentation …