SPRINGFIELD – After singling out Illinois’ worst-in-the-nation pension crisis as the most important issue of his governorship, Pat Quinn could only watch this week as his latest self-imposed deadline evaporated with almost no progress in a Legislature over which he has little sway.

The governor suffered perhaps the worst fallout from this week’s lame-duck session, which ended when his surprise plan for an independent pension commission was derided as desperate. The Legislature, controlled by fellow Democrats, didn’t even call a vote on it.

He has been widely praised for good intentions and efforts, but now it could be more months without movement and no promise of a solution on his signature issue as Republicans – and even a few fellow Democrats – begin angling to challenge him in the 2014 governor’s race.