Top Illinois Senator Says State Retirement Age Staying Put

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan says it would be unconstitutional to force current state employees to work to age 67 before collecting full retirement benefits.

Madigan says he will not raise the retirement age as part of package to cut pension costs. The Chicago Democrat says delaying retirement for current state workers would violate the Illinois Constitution.

Gov. Pat Quinn had proposed delaying retirement to 67 to help close an $83 billion gap in public pension programs.