CHICAGO – Top Illinois lawmakers put off the state's most pressing financial issue yet again Thursday, as negotiations on pension reform delved into a discussion on school funding equality.

During a two-hour, closed-door meeting, legislative leaders appeared to make no headway on their major sticking point of who should pay for the retirement costs of suburban and downstate school districts. They've been trying to reach an agreement after the General Assembly failed to adopt a plan during their spring legislative session to address the growing $83 billion in unfunded pension liability.

Gov. Pat Quinn and House Speaker Michael Madigan, both Democrats, say they want a comprehensive plan that includes shifting the costs from the state to local districts. But the top House and Senate Republicans and Senate President John Cullerton want Quinn to call lawmakers back into session and pass a widely supported reform plan while continuing to discuss schools as a separate issue.