Governor Bruce Rauner's budget proposal includes overhauling state pensions, which his office says will save more than 2 billion dollars.
But Senator Heather Steans calls the plan unrealistic. During a committee addressing budget issues, Steans said not only is that number unverified, there would be no immediate savings.
"At a time when the whole goal here is, you know, not going back to the recklessness in the past and malpractice, as you used the word, of the past, to then do--banking savings and building a budget around 2 billion dollars pension savings that the chance is, you know, practically nonexistent to do, just doesn't feel like it's, you know, building a real budget."
Representatives from the governor's office say the current pension system is unsustainable. They say the numbers are backed up by a consulting firm and are confident the plan is constitutional. A recent law to overhaul the pension systems is facing a court challenge.