Lawmakers will return to the capitol for a shortened session over the next two weeks. They'll only be in Springfield for half the time they originally scheduled.
Some are asking whether three days is enough to make progress on the biggest issue at hand: reforming the state's pension systems.
A local political expert said the fact that House and Senate leaders shortened the lame duck session indicates there's less of a chance they'll reach a deal on pension reform. There also hasn't been any sign publicly that lawmakers are close to an agreement.
"It's a big complicated problem with a lot of moving parts," UIS political science professor Chris Mooney said. "They haven't got it done up to this point, it seems unlikely they'll get it done this weekend."
The shortfall in Illinois' public employee pension systems is approaching $100 billion.
Mooney was featured by WICS-TV 20 on December 31, 2012.
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