SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and the Democratic House speaker have agreed to forgo the dicey issue of local schoolteachers' retirement costs in order to approve a fix for the state's $96 billion pension deficit.

Quinn told reporters after a meeting in Wheaton with Republicans that he will meet with legislative leaders Saturday to try to reach a deal.

Steve Brown is spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan. He says the Chicago Democrat told Quinn that reform legislation is paramount and lawmakers can figure out the financing later.