Legislators named to pension reform group

Friday, January 13, 2012

Legislative leaders have made their appointments to Gov. Pat Quinn’s pension reform panel.

Named were: Sens. Michael Noland, D-Elgin, and Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, and Reps. Elaine Nekritz, D-Des Plaines, and Darlene Senger, R-Naperville. The panel will be led by Jerry Stermer, one of Quinn’s top aides.

Noland said pension reform needs a fresh set of eyes.

“What I mostly bring to the table is a sense of fairness coupled with a sense of urgency, an awareness that we have run out of places to run to,” he said.

Nekritz heads the House Personnel and Pension Committee. Senger also is a committee member.

"Darlene has a very good background in this very arena, so to speak. She knows the state’s got some fault in this,” House Republican Leader Tom Cross of Oswego said about his selection of Senger. “She would also tell you that the employees have to be a bit more engaged in their contribution.”