Lawmakers Told To Be Ready For December Session

A top aide to House Speaker Michael Madigan is telling Illinois lawmakers to be ready for a special session in Springfield in December.

Madigan Chief of Staff Tim Mapes told Democrats in an email Wednesday that a  "possible'' session could begin Dec. 3. He told lawmakers to "keep other days that week available.''
 
The email was sent around the time Madigan and other legislative leaders were meeting in Chicago to discuss a deal to solve the state's $100 billion pension crisis.
 
Dec. 3 is the day after the deadline for candidates to file paperwork in the 2014 campaign, including anyone challenging incumbents.
 
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin says progress is being made on pensions but any agreement is on hold until the cost savings of proposed solutions can be calculated.