Kirk: Pension deal relies on 'accounting gimmicks'

SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., said Monday he opposes the pension deal crafted by the four legislative leaders because it relies on ‘accounting gimmicks’ and does nothing to help remove the state’s temporary income tax hike from the books in early 2015.

“The Illinois General Assembly shouldn’t pass a bill that neither lawmakers nor the voters have had time to read,” Kirk said in a statement released Monday morning by his office.

“What we do know is that this legislation relies heavily on accounting gimmicks, fails to prevent a permanent income tax hike, and falls short of finding the savings needed to solve Illinois’ fiscal crisis. There will be no federal bailout for the state of Illinois, so legislators must get this right,” Kirk said.