The House has approved legislation to revamp the workers' compensation system and pension programs and to make it easier for superfluous units of local government to be consolidated or eliminated.
The issues are critical to getting Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner to agree to a state budget deal. But Republicans objected to each measure.
The workers' comp bill includes a provision that requires insurance companies providing coverage for businesses to have their premium rates approved by state regulators. Rauner has opposed that. It won approval 64-48 and moves to the Senate.
The pension legislation is aimed at closing a $130 billion gap in what's necessary to cover retirement-pay obligations for retired and current state employees and teachers. It was approved 61-41 and goes to the Senate.
The consolidation bill was approved 61-45 and awaits Senate action.
